We are an Armed Forces Veteran friendly GP Practice
A veteran is someone who has served in the British Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) for at least one day. Veterans also include any member of the Merchant Marine who has served in a war zone. This includes crew from convoys in World War 2 and more recently in the Falklands conflict and Gulf Wars.
Please tell us if you are a military veteran so that we can make sure you are offered the support and assistance you may need, now or in the future, as a result of your service.
It would help us to know in which of the Armed Forces you served, the dates of your service and whether you were discharged or retired due to ill health.
Thank you for your service!
About 18,000 service people move back into civilian life every year and whilst most of these individuals have similar levels of health to the general population, around 2,000 leave on medical grounds. The top reasons for medical discharge are for issues relating to back, knees, mental health and hearing.
If you are a veteran please let us know!
Support for Veterans
NHS Mental Health Support for Veterans, Service Leavers, and Reservists
Fear Free – Forces Intervention Programme
Urgent support telephone number: 0800 323 4444
The Op COURAGE Integrated Veterans Mental Health Service
The Op COURAGE Integrated Veterans Mental Health Service can support anyone who has served in the UK Armed Forces community regardless of length of time served, rank or reason for leaving. We cover the areas of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Cornwall and The Isles Of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. Our services are available to:
- former members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force
- reservists who are not currently mobilised
- those who have served in the Merchant Navy in support of military operations
- those who have served their National Service
- former members of the Territorial Army
Veterans may experience a range of mental health difficulties, including: - depression and anxiety
- difficulty with sleeping
- feeling overwhelmed
- difficulty controlling anger and frustration
- difficulty moving on from military life
- alcohol, drug or gambling issues
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- The service can provide comprehensive assessments and offer access to local
support. Depending on each individual’s circumstances, we may signpost veterans
to other local services including non-statutory services to ensure that there is a
holistic package in place throughout the pathway – supporting and complimenting
care delivered by the Op COURAGE Integrated team.
These services might include: - housing support
- debt management
- employment support
- social inclusion
- welfare support
Op COURAGE Integrated Veterans Mental Health Services have established links, including: - Crisis / home treatment teams
- Liaison psychiatry
- Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services
- Adult community mental health teams
- Inpatient services
- Substance misuse services
- Gambling services
- Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs)
- Personal health budgets (PHBs) including PHBs for wheelchairs
- Services for veterans in the Criminal Justice System (CJS)
- Veterans Trauma Network (VTN) and physical healthcare services
How to access our service:
If you meet the criteria for either a veteran or a serving personnel member you can
refer yourself directly by either: - calling: 0300 034 9986 Monday – Friday 9am-5pm.
or - emailing: mevs.mhm@nhs.net
You can also contact your GP or health professional to refer you too
Details Of Other Support Organisations
- Op Nova – Support for veterans who are in contact with the justice system.
- Op Restore – Healthcare & welfare support for veterans, service leavers, non-mobilised reservists and, their family members and carers
- Veterans UK – Offers free support and looks after the assessment, award, payment and maintenance of all pensions relating to service in the armed forces.
- Veterans Gateway – Gets veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the advice and support they need.
- Forces Employment Charity – Provides life long, life changing support, jobs and training opportunities to service leavers, veterans, reservists and their spouses, partners and children.
- Mental health services for veterans | Combat Stress – Specialist clinical treatment and support for veterans, with a focus on those with complex mental health issues.
- UK Armed Forces and military veterans charity | Help For Heroes – Helping Veterans and their families live well after service.
- Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association (SSAFA) – Helping the Armed Forces community with a focus on providing direct support to individuals in need or physical or emotional care.
- Army Families Federation (AFF) – Improving the quality of life for Army families, wherever you are in the world.
- Royal British Legion (RBL) – Lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.
