RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 National Health Service interventions in England to improve care to Armed Forces veterans
JF BMJ Military Health
JO BMJ Mil Health
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP 95
OP 98
DO 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001739
VO 168
IS 1
A1 Andrew Bacon
A1 E Martin
A1 R Swarbrick
A1 A Treadgold
YR 2022
UL http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/168/1/95.abstract
AB Armed Forces veterans (AFVs) are first and foremost citizens of the UK and are therefore—like all UK residents—entitled to universal healthcare, free at the point of need. This means that AFVs have nearly all their healthcare needs met by the NHS, which provides access to a full range of generic services. However, since 2013 there has been an Armed Forces team that can also support veterans. This review is an assessment of the work of this group over the last eight years. The health needs of AFVs have been investigated and are not significantly different from those of their demographically matched peers. However, due to their demographics, selection at recruitment and their roles, AFVs compared with the general population are more likely to be male, white and old and have fewer pre-existing or hereditary conditions. However, they do suffer from higher rates of musculoskeletal injury, different patterns of mental health illness and have historically been higher users—and abusers—of alcohol and tobacco. In addition to supporting mainstream services used by AFVs, the NHS in England commissions a bespoke range-specific ‘Priority’ NHS services such as those for mental health or for rehabilitation of veterans using prostheses. New interventions are continuing to be developed to improve AFVs’ healthcare and are aligned to the NHS Long Term Plan and the restoration and recovery plans after the COVID-19 pandemic.No data are available.