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New guidance to help GPs support veterans' healthcare
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), The Royal British Legion and Combat Stress today launch guidance to support GPs in identifying and meeting the healthcare needs of veterans more effectively - including accessing the priority treatment to which all veterans are entitled for Service-related conditions.
The jointly-produced guidance for GPs looks at how best to care for veterans' physical and mental health after they have left the Forces and rejoined civilian life. It provides useful advice on medical records and accessing priority treatment, along with dedicated sections including mental health needs, health behaviours, the provision of prostheses and hospital waiting lists.
In 2008, as a result of pressure to improve healthcare under the Legion's "Honour the Covenant" campaign, War Pensioners' entitlement to priority treatment in the NHS was extended - entitling all veterans (whether in receipt of a war pension or not) who have health problems that may be related to their military Service to be given priority non-emergency treatment on the NHS.
An Ipsos-Mori poll carried out on behalf of The Royal British Legion last year found that some GPs were reluctant to raise the subject of whether their patients were veterans and others expressed confusion about how best to navigate the health system on behalf of their veteran patients.
The new guidance aims to address these issues. It demonstrates how GPs can identify veterans on their lists and encourages best practice when referring veterans for further care. This includes provision of a written statement confirming that the patient is a veteran and whether or not their health problem could be related to their military service.
The guidance for GPs parallels guidance already produced by the Legion for veterans themselves, in partnership with the NHS.
RCGP Chairman Professor Steve Field said: "A large number of our patients in general practice are veterans or families of veterans from wars gone by or the recent or current conflicts in Iraq, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. It is vital that as GPs, we are properly prepared and resourced to provide them with the care and services they so need and deserve.
"My own practice, Bellevue Medical Centre in Birmingham, has a large number of Defence Service personnel and works very closely with Selly Oak so I know first hand that the care provided for our Armed Forces is brilliant, as are the rehabilitation facilities at Headley Court. The staff are superb and the patients incredibly brave. But once they've left the Armed Forces they face many more problems and life becomes more difficult.
"This guidance is a great step forward in helping mainstream GPs identify and support the health needs of our veterans so that we can improve access and quality of the care and services that the NHS provides to them - it's the least they should expect.
"The RCGP already works closely with the Defence Medical Services and one of the key calls of our recent election manifesto was for greater NHS engagement to support the physical, mental and social wellbeing of Armed Forces veterans.
"We are delighted that we have been able to turn this pledge into something practical and it is an added privilege to have The Royal British Legion - an organisation that does such fantastic work and that commands so much respect - working with us. We are also pleased to be working with Combat Stress which does so much to help with the care of veterans' mental health."
Sue Freeth, Director of Welfare at The Royal British Legion, said: "The Legion has been working hard over recent years to ensure that health professionals and veterans alike are made aware of the entitlement to priority treatment from the NHS, and of specific healthcare services for veterans, such as the Medical Assessment Programme and the Reservists Mental Health Programme.
"This new guidance for GPs is an important pillar of this work and the result of true partnership. The Department of Health, Combat Stress and the RCGP have all helped to make this happen. We hope that, as a result, veterans will start to see real improvements in the support and care they receive from their GP and the NHS."
Peter Poole, Director of Strategy, Policy and Performance at Combat Stress, said: "As the leading military charity specialising in the care of veterans' mental health, Combat Stress welcomes this partnership with The Royal British Legion and the Royal College of General Practitioners.
"On average, the veterans who seek help from Combat Stress come to us 14 years after Service discharge. Too often this delay can lead to marriage break-up, unemployment, social isolation, and substance misuse - in short, a total unravelling of a normal life.
"By increasing awareness of Service-related mental ill health among front-line NHS staff - and directing veterans to appropriate services - together, we can reach this distinct but often overlooked group of patients earlier. This can only serve to improve their uptake of treatment, prospect of recovery and, ultimately, quality of life."
Further information
RCGP Press office
T: 020 3188 7574 / 7575 / 7576 Out of hours: 07885 958 632
E: press@rcgp.org.uk
The Royal British Legion Press Office - Susan Cottam
T: 020 3207 2477
M: 07775 017889
E: scottam@britishlegion.org.uk
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