Providing extra support for veterans | News and events

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) has demonstrated its commitment to making sure that veterans and members of the armed forces are treated with fairness and respect by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

The covenant is a public pledge that veterans and servicemen and women, together with their families, will not be disadvantaged when accessing healthcare services. One of its key aims is to make sure that anyone who has specific needs as a result of their experiences, for example around mental health, are given the additional support they need.

At the same time, NSFT is working to achieve “Veteran’s Aware” accreditation to formalise its commitment to improving the care which veterans receive. A mark of distinction, the accreditation means that staff have received specific training and education to help meet the needs of patients who have served in the UK armed forces, and can also signpost them to local support services for further help.

Diane Palmer, Lead Nurse for Trauma Informed Care and Veterans Mental Health with NSFT, said: “We are proud that NSFT has signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and is working towards achieving Veteran’s Aware status. This important accreditation will underline our commitment to ensuring that all of our patients – including those who are currently serving in the armed forces or have done in the past – receive the best possible care to meet their needs.

“This can be especially important as servicemen and women can often have specific mental health needs as a result of their experiences.

“At the same time, we are beginning to roll out a new veterans mental health training package to staff across the Trust, starting with our inpatient wards. We are also working more closely than ever before with the MoD, military charities and partners across East Anglia to further improve the services which veterans and their families receive, while also raising awareness of their differing needs.”

NSFT has offered additional support for veterans for some time, and launched its Veterans’ Stabilisation Programme in Norfolk in 2014. Running three times a year, the programme is based on cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness principles, and focuses on helping veterans understand and manage emotional and physical issues and smoothing the psychological transition to civilian life.

Jon, who is currently taking part in the programme, said: “I was very sceptical about treatment and was more than hesitant when thinking about exposing myself to a group of people I didn't know, especially other veterans as I didn't want to be judged.

“But over the period of the course, the staff stuck with me and invested time to listen to me. Our group sessions ended up being invaluable and all the trepidations I had beforehand eroded over time.

“I still have struggles with anger and low mood but I also have some tools to work with that, some understanding of how and why those feelings have come about, thoughts that counter the old narrative I was tortured with and – most importantly – real hope! Real hope that I can positively change for myself and those closest to me.”

In addition, NSFT offers a veterans’ wellbeing support group in Suffolk which has received excellent feedback from those attending, while Wayne Ward, the Trust’s West Suffolk Armed Forces Lead, also provides support to veterans and servicemen and women admitted onto the wards or who are receiving care from the crisis team.

Ex-servicemen and women are also able to self-refer to the Wellbeing Service for support with common mental health conditions, such as depression and low mood.

For more information about the support which NSFT offers to veterans, go to www.nsft.nhs.uk/Find-help/Pages/Help-for-veterans.aspx