Colleagues from across NHS Veteran Aware accredited organisations, the Armed Forces community, partner organisations and the wider community came together for the NHS Veteran Aware Annual National Conference 2026 to share learning, celebrate progress and explore how working together can improve healthcare for those who serve, have served and their families.
Held online on 16 September 2026, the conference brought together voices from across healthcare and the wider Armed Forces community around the theme “Strengthening the Alliance”.
Now in its sixth year, the NHS VCHA Annual National Conference has become an important opportunity for NHS Veteran Aware accredited organisations, the Armed Forces community, partners and the wider healthcare system to come together, share learning and explore how collaboration can improve healthcare and outcomes.
The 2026 conference highlighted the importance of recognising the unique experiences of the Armed Forces community, listening to lived experience and working across organisational boundaries to improve healthcare and outcomes.
Putting lived experience at the heart of healthcare
A strong theme throughout the conference was the importance of listening to the people who use and experience services.
Contributions from members of the Armed Forces community provided personal perspectives on the ways that military service, family life and transition from service can influence people’s experiences of healthcare.
Together, these perspectives reinforced the importance of recognising an individual’s connection to the Armed Forces and understanding the circumstances that may shape their healthcare needs.
The contributions also demonstrated the value of bringing lived experience into conversations about service improvement, ensuring that the development of healthcare remains focused on the people it is intended to support.
Working together to strengthen healthcare
The conference showcased the breadth of organisations and individuals contributing to better healthcare for the Armed Forces community.
Senior leaders and speakers explored the importance of collaboration, leadership and partnership, with discussions considering how organisations can share learning and build on good practice.
The conference also heard from Calvin Bailey MBE MP, Minister for Veterans and People and Dame Kelly Holmes MBE (Mil) OLY, alongside contributions from colleagues working across Armed Forces healthcare and patient and public involvement.
The message was clear: improving healthcare for the Armed Forces community is a shared responsibility, requiring continued collaboration between NHS organisations, the Armed Forces community, partners and the wider community.
Turning data and evidence into better care
Improving the way the NHS identifies and understands the Armed Forces community was another important theme.
Delegates heard about the VCHA Outcomes Framework, identification and data capture, and the role of education, research and evidence in supporting improvement.
Better information can help organisations understand who they are supporting, identify areas where services can improve and measure the impact of changes.
The conference also explored research into the experiences of military women through the Centre for Military Women’s Research, highlighting the importance of understanding the different experiences and needs within the wider Armed Forces community.
Sharing developments across Armed Forces healthcare
The conference provided an opportunity to hear about a range of developments taking place across Armed Forces healthcare.
Delegates heard an update on VALOUR, alongside wider discussions about how services can continue to develop and respond to the needs of the Armed Forces community.
The programme also included an update from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, looking ahead to its plans for the next three years.
Lt Col Jane Phillips-Wallace and Lt Col Kevin Eardley of 202 (Midlands) Multi-Role Medical Regiment (Army Reserve) shared their insights on Armed Forces healthcare and support.
These contributions demonstrated the breadth of work taking place across the wider Armed Forces healthcare and support landscape, and the importance of sharing knowledge between organisations.
From Veteran Aware principles to real-world impact
The conference also celebrated examples of progress from NHS organisations, demonstrating how the Veteran Aware approach is being embedded within local services.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust shared examples of their work and the impact of their approach.
The examples provided an opportunity to showcase practical improvements, share learning and consider how successful approaches can be developed and shared across the wider Veteran Aware network.
A stronger alliance for the future
Across the conference, a consistent message emerged: stronger partnerships create better opportunities to improve healthcare for the Armed Forces community.
Whether through lived experience, patient and public voice, education, research, data or sharing practical examples of improvement, every part of the alliance has a role to play.
Closing the conference, Professor Tim Briggs CBE reflected on the discussions and the importance of continuing to work collectively.
The NHS VCHA Annual National Conference 2026 provided an opportunity to celebrate what has been achieved, learn from one another and look ahead to the work still to be done.
By strengthening relationships across NHS Veteran Aware-accredited organisations, the Armed Forces community, partner organisations and the wider community, the conference reinforced a shared commitment to ensuring that those who serve, have served and their families receive healthcare that recognises and responds to their needs.
Watch the conference
Recordings of the 2026 conference is now available to watch on our official YouTube channel.
Planning for the NHS VCHA Annual National Conference 2027 is already underway, with further details to be announced in due course.
If you have any questions about the conference, or have experiences, ideas or examples of good practice that you would like to contribute to a future NHS VCHA Annual National Conference, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please email rnoh.vcha@nhs.net.
