Veteran Friendly Accredited Surgery

The Grove Medical Practice is very proud to be a veteran friendly accredited surgery. Dr Sally Dangerfield is our lead GP in this area and is a military veteran herself. If you haven't already informed us that you are a Military Veteran then please do so the next time you make contact.

There are many services that can help military veterans, some of which are listed below.

Our PPG in conjunction with Dr Dangerfield and NHS Dorset have also compiled a directory of information which is available as a pdf here:

Grove Military Veterans Directory

Sherborne Military Veterans Support Group

Meets on the third Saturday of every month 10:00-12:00 at The Community Room, Manor Court, Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JX. If you haven't been before, this is a friendly and informal gathering, open to all serving or veterans, widows/widowers and families. Please spread the word to anyone who might be interested and for more information please email vicky.morland@dorsetgp.nhs.uk

NHS Care for the Armed Forces community in England

The NHS is responsible for providing all hospital and most community services for serving personnel (except for mental health, general practice and rehabilitation services). The NHS also provides nearly all community, general practice and hospital services for the families of serving personnel, reservists and veterans. Included as part of this are the following dedicated services and initiatives to support the Armed Forces community.

NHS mental health services for veterans

Op Courage: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service Op Courage is the new Integrated Mental Health Service which was launched on 1st April 2023. It enhances the previous offer for the three NHS veterans' mental health services - Veteran's Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS), Veteran's Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) and Veteran's High Intensity Treatment Service (HIS). This service is integrated so the those who need help enter Op Courage services through one referral and then are triaged and directed to the service that suits their needs best. For more information, please click on the following button: NHS Veteran's Mental Health

Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service The Veterans Trauma Network, now Op RESTORE provides care and treatment to those injured as a result of their service in the armed forces. The service is available in selected NHS health centres across England. Veterans accessing this service will be cared for by military and civilian clinicians who understand the nature and context of the injuries. Op RESTORE personnel work closely with Defense Medical Services, national centres of clinical expertise, NHS veterans mental health services and key service charities to make sure patients have a personalised care plan in place. As families and carers can be seriously impacted when their loved ones are injured, they can also be supported to access services that may help them. The Veterans Trauma Network also works with research partners, to better understand the impact of these injuries and the service has been designed following feedback and information from injured veterans and their families. This service requires a GP referral. 

Op NOVA: Veterans in the Justice System The Forces Employment Charity to deliver Op NOVA, an England wide service for veterans who come into contact with the justic system, pre and post prison custody. Working together with nHS Servics and health and justice services, as well as charities and other organisations, Op NOVA provides a single point of contact for veterans, who following an assessment, will have a comprehensive support plan developed for them that is overseen by a care and support co-ordinator.

Op FORTITUDE - Housing  Funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund to deliver a centralised referral pathway into veteran supported housing. The team will work with individual veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, supporting them either into suitable accommodation, or supporting them to maintain their current home. There is a freephone number you are able to call: 0800 952 0774. We are also able to refer eligible patients to this service.

Veterans Prosthetics Panel (VPP)
The VPP provides funding on a named veteran basis to NHS Disablement Service Centres (DSC) to ensure that veterans who have service related limb loss can access high quality prosthetics regardless of which DSC they attend.

Armed Forces personnel in transition: Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Framework (IPC4V)  IPC4V is a personalised care approach for serving personnel who have complex and enduring physical, neurological and mental health conditions that are attributable to injury whilst in service. It provides a framework for effectively planning and delivering personalised care in line with the Armed Forces Covenant. Central to this is an improved discharge planning process, starting approximately nine months before these individuals leave the military. This means that the MOD, health and social care, Armed Forces charities and other organisations involved in the care of these individuals are brought together at an earlier point in the care pathway, ensuring care and support arrangements are in place as they transition to civilian life and beyond.

Personalised care for veterans with a long term physical, mental or neurological health condition or disability
Ex-forces with a complex and life-long health condition may be eligible for the veterans personalised care programme. Eligible individuals will have a single personalised care plan for all their health and wellbeing needs that is developed with them and a range of organisations, including health and social care and military charities. To apply, individuals should contact their local clinical commissioning group.

Veteran friendly GP practice accreditation
Over the next five years, NHS England and NHS Improvement, together with the Royal College of General Practitioners, are rolling out the veteran friendly GP practice accreditation scheme across England. This scheme, which is intended to help ensure practices are equipped to best care for veterans and their families, has already accredited over 770 surgeries.

The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)
The VCHA aims to improve NHS care for the Armed Forces community by supporting trusts, health boards and other providers to identify, develop and showcase the best standards of care. To date, over 40 trusts have been accredited as ‘Veteran Aware’, having demonstrated their commitment to eight core manifesto standards, including signing the Armed Forces Covenant, raising awareness of veterans’ healthcare needs among staff, and establishing links with local support providers.
For further information, email england.armedforceshealth@nhs.net or visit the NHS website page Military Healthcare

Veterans UK

Veterans UK provide free support for veterans and their families, including a helpline, Veterans Welfare Service and injury/bereavement compensation scheme payments. To find out more visit their website here