Herts Trusts achieve Veteran Aware accreditation
The Trusts that have been accredited are Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT), which provides health and social care services for those with mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism, and Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) which provides community-based healthcare services.
The news follows our work in 2021, in conjunction with the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board, which aimed to Improve Healthcare Access for Veterans locally. Our research showed many health services could improve care for local veterans and we are delighted to see two more Trusts become Veteran Aware.
The accreditation process is overseen by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) to ensure people from the Armed Forces Community are not disadvantaged in terms of healthcare, as a result of their military life. This is in line with the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT)
The accreditation means HPFT has been recognised as taking account of the needs of the Armed Forces Community when providing services across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk and Waveney and Essex.
It is believed the Armed Forces Community across HPFTs service area accounts for about 10 per cent of the population it serves, totalling around 485,000 people. This figure includes just over 138,000 veterans, 10,030 serving members and more than 333,350 family members.
”After training as a Clinical Psychologist I have specialised in working with trauma and in treating PTSD. During the course of this work, I have helped numerous military veterans come to terms with experiences they have been affected by during the course of their service. I am delighted that the Trust has been recognised as Veteran Aware and we will continue our work to understand the challenges veterans face after leaving the Armed Forces and ensure they receive the best care from our services.”
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT)
HCT provides community-based healthcare services to the population of Hertfordshire, West Essex and beyond, supporting people at every stage of their lives, from health visiting, school nursing and specialist dental or speech services to community nursing rehabilitation and palliative care.
This accreditation recognises the Trust’s commitment to addressing the needs of the Armed Forces Community.
“I am delighted that the Trust has been successfully accredited as Veteran Aware which formally recognises our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and as an exemplar of the best standards of care for the armed forces community, including their families and their children. As a Trust we will build on this work and carry on growing our relationships with the local armed forces community so we can continue to improve services for veterans and their families.”
