With around 51,000 veterans living in Essex, NHS Essex is committed to ensuring former armed forces personnel receive the personalised care and support they need.
Ahead of Armed Forces Day (27 June), an Essex GP and military veteran has spoken about the importance of helping veterans access the right services when they need them.
Dr Alan Speers served in the military for 16 years before becoming an NHS GP in 2017. A GP at Rowhedge and University of Essex Medical Practice in Colchester, Dr Speer’s is one of 162 practices in Essex that have undergone training to become a Veteran Friendly accredited practice.
The accreditation helps practices identify and offer tailored support to veterans of the armed forces.
Dr Speers was sponsored by the Army through medical school and qualified as a doctor in 1997. He attended Sandhurst Military Academy and in the following years he deployed with the Army to countries including the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Oman, Mongolia, Kenya, Hong Kong and Cyprus where he experienced the challenges, adventures and trauma of being a serving armed forces member.
I served around the world have seen first-hand what soldiers have experienced and the effect this has had on many soldiers mentally and physically. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have in particular had an enduring impact on veterans’ health. Veteran Friendly GP practices make sure veterans can get the help they need.
Dr Speers
In the last 10 years the support for veterans has improved significantly. Mental health support through OpCourage has had a very positive impact in helping soldiers with mental illness as a result of their time serving in the Armed Forces.
Being able to signpost veterans to services like OpCourage is one of the important aspects of what being Veteran Friendly is all about. In the Armed Forces you are trained to have the ethos to keep going – whether you need medical or mental health support or not, so when you leave it often isn’t easy for people to seek out and use NHS services when they need them.
I have some of my Army memorabilia displayed in my office so when veterans come to see me they can see I am also a veteran often putting them at ease and they feel more comfortable talking about what they need.
OpCourage is a specially designed mental health and wellbeing service for veterans living in England.
People who have served in the armed forces even just for one day can register themselves as a veteran with their GP. This will help practices signpost them to the most appropriate support available, as quickly as possible.
Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to recognise and thank everyone who has served our country, and to reaffirm our commitment to supporting them when they need help with their physical health or mental wellbeing.
Beverley Flowers, Executive Director of Neighbourhood Health at NHS Essex
Veterans can face unique challenges as a result of their service. By encouraging people to let their GP practice know they have served, we can help ensure they are connected to the specialist advice and support available, including veteran-specific mental health services where appropriate.
A list of Veteran Friendly accredited practices is available on the Royal College of General Practitioner website.
Local support for veterans and serving personnel is available on the Essex County Council website.
Find out more about OpCourage