Royal Star & Garter High Wycombe Home has gained ‘Veteran Aware’ status – the second of the company’s care homes to receive this accreditation.
It has been formally recognised by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), a group of NHS healthcare providers in England committed to providing the best standards of care for the armed forces community in England based on the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Armed Forces Covenant, which recently passed into law, is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve, or who have served, in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
The evidence suggested that members of the armed forces received variable levels of care once the military was no longer responsible for them.
The VCHA aim is to develop, share and drive the implementation of best practice that will improve armed forces veterans’ care, while at the same time raising standards for everyone. The VCHA programme is also piloting the Veteran Aware accreditation of both the independent sector and hospices as part of a widening scope exercise.
Royal Star & Garter provides award-winning care for veterans and their partners. Its Solihull Home was the first care home in England to be accredited through this programme.
The award means Royal Star & Garter’s High Wycombe Home has signed up to the ethos of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a guarantee by the nation that those who serve, or who have served, in the Armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
Andy Cole OBE, Chief Executive, Royal Star & Garter said: “We are delighted that Royal Star & Garter – High Wycombe is the second of our homes to receive Veterans Aware status. All our homes are an active part of the local veteran community and we are always proud and keen to share best practice as part of our ongoing commitment to veterans and their families.”
Tony Armstrong, the VCHA’s Widening Scope (Projects) Lead said: “Royal Star & Garter High Wycombe is only the third care home across England to be awarded Veteran Aware accreditation. It has been a pleasure to work with the team, to support them in submitting a high quality application for accreditation.
“According to the latest census report from the Office for National Statistics, about 2.5 per cent of the population in Buckinghamshire people have some connection to the UK’s armed forces. This amounts to quite a sizable proportion so the scale of the need is clear.”
The Veteran Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) is committed to improving Armed Forces and Veteran care whilst raising standards for all. A total of 133 NHS providers in England are now Veteran Aware accredited, and the VCHA aims to have all Trusts in England accredited by March 2023 at the latest.
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