Many of the support services are provided by clinicians with previous military experience, being either veterans or professionals with close links to the armed forces. At least two of these courses are well established having delivered multiple programmes.
Veteran Specific Services
These services are provided by both the 3rd sector, private healthcare (but free to veterans) and the wider NHS, and it is worth noting over 2 million men and women resident in the UK attract veteran status. While very many of these men and women easily transition from the Armed Forces into civilian life, this is not always the case when having to deal with complex health conditions related to military service.
The enclosed documents give further detail concerning:
Veteran Specific Pain Management and Pain Resilience Courses – There at least three organisations providing this support (The King Edward VII Hospital, London, and two other military charities, Supporting Wounded Veterans(SWV) and Help for Heroes (H4H). (Web links enclosed)
The Veterans Trauma Network – This is a NHS England organisation that enables those with physical health issues related to their service to access appropriate specialist treatment. Access to this is via GP referral (web links and referral proforma enclosed).
Op Courage – Mental Health Support for Veterans Service Leavers and Reservists. (Web links enclosed).
Other Support - I provide some detail of other organisations that I have accessed that provide support to military veterans. (Web links enclosed).
The details that are provided have been endorsed by the originations that are managing these programmes, and the Veterans Trauma Network is “open source” document, although it may be that some GP Practices are unsighted of the care pathways that a referral will support.
Summary
At a time when all resources are limited, it seems pragmatic to signpost veterans to these services, especially when they are at no cost to the individual or “the system”.
By accessing these additional support networks, it may mean less reliance on other elements of the wider NHS – leading to an improved ability to live with chronic pain and the wider benefit this can bring.
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