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Veterans and the armed forces community

As a Trust we are committed to supporting veterans and the armed forces community and align our values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Support for veterans and the armed forces community

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC) has affirmed its support to the armed forces community by signing the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant.

The Corporate Covenant commits the Trust to upholding the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:

no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen; and
in some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate, especially for the injured or bereaved.

It also means the Trust will demonstrate its support by:

promoting the fact that we are an armed forces-friendly organisation
seeking to support the employment of veterans young and old
striving to support the employment of service spouses and partners
endeavouring to offer a degree of flexibility in granting leave for service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment
seeking to support our employees who choose to be members of the reserve forces, including by accommodating their training and deployment where possible
offering support to our local cadet units, either in our local community or in local schools, where possible
aiming to actively participate in Armed Forces Day
ensuring quick and easy access to healthcare services, and in some cases ‘fast tracking’ treatment where symptoms are as a result of military service or related experience.

Healthcare for the armed forces community

How the NHS can help if you’re in the British armed forces, a veteran or a family member of someone who is serving or who has served.

Read more>>

We are proud to be Veteran Aware

We are proud to be a Veteran Aware Trust. This accreditation from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) recognises our commitment to driving improvements in care for veterans, reservists, members of the armed forces and their families, as well as supporting the armed forces as an employer.
Read more here>>

Click here to visit the VCHA website

Enhancing Awareness

Having served in the military for a number of years, veterans Ashley and Lee found the transition to civilian life extremely difficult. To help raise awareness of the mental health issues faced by serving and ex-military personnel, they bravely share their experiences in this short film, and talk of how they overcame their own personal difficulties.

Defence ERS

Our Trust has been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award in recognition of its commitment and support for defence personnel and the armed forces community.

This means we are open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.

Read more >>

Useful information

Reservists

Becoming a reservist is a great way to progress in your career in health and obtain new skills.
Find out more>>

243 (The Wessex) Field Hospital is part of the Army Reserve Medical Services. It is looking for healthcare professionals from all clinical specialities and grades (HCAs and consultants) from across the South West and Hampshire.
Find out more>>

National support

National organisations which provide support for veterans:

Royal British Legion
Wide-ranging support available for all serving and ex-service personnel and their families.
The national helpline is 0808 802 8080.
Combat Stress
Help for veterans who are worried about their mental health.
SSAFA
The Armed Forces Charity
PTSD Resolution
Providing counselling for former armed forces, reservists and families.
Veterans’ Gateway
Support for mental health and employment.
Help for Heroes
Lifetime support for the armed forces community and their families.
NHS support for veterans
NHS England has produced a leaflet about support for veterans.
Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
The new name for the Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS), Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) and Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service (HIS).
Veterans UK
Provides free support for veterans and their families, including a helpline, Veterans Welfare Service, Defence Transition Services and injury/bereavement compensation scheme payments.
The ATS and WRAC (Women’s Royal Arm Corps) Association Benevolent Fund awards one-off and recurring financial grants to purchase specific goods, services or facilities for eligible former servicewomen, or their dependents, in need.
Togetherall
Togetherall (formerly Big White Wall) is a unique mental health service offering an anonymous and safe support community, moderated by professionals and counsellors.
Change Grow Live
Change, Grow, Live Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service is a social care charity that works with individuals who want to change their lives for the better and achieve positive and life-affirming goals.
The Ripple Pond
The Ripple Pond is a UK-wide self-help support network for the adult family members of physically or psychologically injured British service personnel and veterans. It offers a range of support including closed Facebook groups, talks and events, meet-ups, signposting and one-to-one support.
Veterans railcard
Veterans can apply for a railcard for 1/3 off rail travel here.
Veterans badge or medal
Veterans can apply for a veterans badge or medal from the Ministry of Defence.
The Women’s Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust provides worldwide advice and financial relief in cases of necessity or distress for its members. Every former Wren or female serving member of the Royal Navy who joined the service between 1st September 1939 and 1st November 1993 is a member. (There are other organisations that the Trust works with, for those who served prior to September 1939.) The Trust helps both officers and ratings. If you ever hear of a former Wren who you think may be having difficulties, do please tell her about the Trust or approach them on her behalf.

Local support

Local organisations which provide support for veterans:

Armed Forces Community Covenant
Gloucestershire County Council
Royal British Legion
In Gloucestershire, the RBL runs free ‘pop-ins’ for help and advice in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Lydney, Stroud and Tewkesbury.
Let’s Talk
Support with stress, anxiety and depression, provided by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Age UK Gloucestershire can help older veterans and their families, and has produced this guide to sources of support in the county.
Veterans’ Get-Togethers in Gloucestershire
Find out about regular monthly veterans clubs, held in every district in the county, welcoming all veterans of any age.
Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (formerly TILS, CTS and HIS)
Provides support for veterans and/or their partners or spouses who are struggling to cope. Referrals for Op Courage in the South Central and South West regions should be made through a single point of access. The referral form should be completed and sent to gateway@berkshire.nhs.uk or you can call 0300 365 2000 and select option 4. People can also self-refer by dialling this number.
SSAFA
Welfare, health and support services for the UK military’s serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Stroud District Council drop-ins
Budgeting, mental health issues and housing support are just some of the areas that military veterans can get support for at a new monthly drop-in service at Stroud District Council. Nicky Wallace, Advice & Information Officer for the Royal British Legion in Gloucestershire will be based at the council’s offices at Ebley Mill on the second Monday of each month to provide support and information for members of the armed forces, veterans and their families.
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust
NHS Transition, Intervention and Liaison Veterans Mental Health Service, South West and South Central.

Case studies

Daren's story

Daren Mitchell is a veteran from Gloucestershire who has experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is his story…

I joined the Royal Airforce straight from school in May 1979, aged 16. There was absolutely nothing else I wanted to do. I actually lied to my mother. She thought I was going to become an aircraft engine fitter. But I thought blowing things up would be much more fun, so I became an aircraft weapons specialist.

I joined the RAF and my problems started a couple of years later, when I was involved in an explosion. We were preparing ammunition for an aircraft firing exercise and one of the rounds exploded. My throat took the full force of the blast, and I was badly wounded, losing six-and-a-half pints of blood. I was very lucky to survive

Within a couple of weeks of that incident, things really started to get to me. The slightest noise and I’d freeze; a loud bang and I’d hit the floor. I was getting flashbacks and would go into a trance every now and then. The whole sensation was really strange. I tried pushing all of this out of my mind, but that just made things worse.

As well as realising my own mortality I saw a lot of death during my career in the RAF. At the time I was doing my job, like a robot; it was all part of my training. But afterwards, when I was sitting in the Naafi, or at home, all of a sudden my brain just imploded.

The one experience which has stayed with me the most, however, is totally unrelated to my time in the RAF; it was witnessing the death of a child. A young lad was hit by a car. I saw the incident and, being a first aider, rushed to help. Sadly the boy didn’t make it. I will never forget his face and it affected me greatly. I just couldn’t talk about it at all. Keeping everything shut in became almost like an obsession. I think this is very common with men, particularly among my military friends. We just clam up and say, “I’m alright.”

Early on in my RAF career, I got married. A few years later, my wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. We had a son, I was working full-time and I became my wife’s carer at night. Life was difficult. Sadly, my wife passed away in 1995, with my seven-year-old son holding her hand. This was a particularly tough time and further impacted my mental health.

I left the Airforce in July 1992. Next to losing my wife, that was probably one of the worst days of my life. I missed the structure, the comradeship and way of life. During those 12 or 13 years that I served I could tell myself I was alright and just carry on. But when I got to Civvy Street things just started to slide. It was as though all my demons were there, ready to get me. I used to get into arguments quite easily. I would get frustrated and my stress levels would build. I was just getting worse and worse.

I did eventually go on to have another relationship and further children, but my PTSD caused real problems in that relationship. Rather than dealing with my issues, I simply bottled things up. I worked nights to get away from it all, which didn’t help my relationship or my PTSD.

I did finally remarry in 2017. I met my wife Chrissy about nine years ago. She was a palliative care nurse for Marie Curie. Caring for people who are dying, building relationships with her patients and their families, only to see them pass away, could take a huge toll on her emotionally. Chrissy used to open up and talk to me about things, which really helped her – but it helped me too. Even though I still had things boxed up inside my head, listening to Chrissy talk about her problems and worries was helping me indirectly. She is my soulmate and my rock, and has been really instrumental in my road to recovery.

For years I felt constantly depressed, but just ignored it, until eventually it all started to become too much. I decided to go to my GP, who referred me to Let’s Talk. Before I went along to my first therapy session, I told myself: “I’m going to beat this. Whatever it takes, I’m going to beat this.” I was so determined. After attending weekly one-to-one sessions, I reached a point in October last year when I agreed with my therapist that I no longer needed to attend, as I had made such great progress.

Let’s Talk was the key to everything in getting me on my road to recovery. The therapy sessions opened my mind up to function properly, clear itself and put things in the correct place. Where I have those horrible thoughts, I can actually talk about them now. Before I would back away or change the subject. I am no longer ashamed to get upset or emotional when discussing the things which have impacted on my life.

I would thoroughly recommend Let’s Talk to anybody. It is so non-invasive and has done so much to help me. People I know comment all the time about the difference they see in me now. I cannot believe how beneficial the treatment has been.

Brian's story

Brian O’Donoghue is a veteran who has experienced PTSD. This is his story…

Before my road to recovery can be described let me give you some history. I am Brian, a fifty-something born in Liverpool. I grew up with Mum and Dad and my older sister and had a happy childhood and left school to start an apprenticeship in the print sector. I became one of ‘Maggie’s Millions’ during the recession in the mid-eighties and even drove a bus for three years.

Following my mum’s death I made the decision to join the Army and finally in 1990 I ‘signed the line’ and began an eventful and very interesting time with the Corps of Royal Engineers. I served for 12 years and spent time living and working in Germany along with two deployments to the former Republic of Yugoslavia with the United Nations Protection Force. The tours were not particularly pleasant and the tours certainly left an impression on all of us who served during this grim chapter of European history.

It wasn’t until 2001 when I was stationed in the UK with a training unit that things took a turn for me. On a sunny July morning we were called out to the scene of an accident; a tank weighing 70 tons had rolled over and trapped three personnel. It took some time to recover the vehicle and, once the tank had been moved, it was apparent that there had been two fatalities. It was after the tank had been moved my immediate boss and I were tasked with clearing up the scene. This was particularly unpleasant and involved clearing the ground of any human remains.

We returned to our offices and tried to make sense of what had happened and to make sense of the task that we had carried out. A senior member of staff walked into the office and announced quite loudly that we did not need any counselling and promptly exited the office. However, I should have spoken to someone, I didn’t and that was certainly my undoing.

I rapidly went downhill; my mood had likely become low and my life rapidly unravelled with my marriage breaking down and I finally saw a GP in Hereford when on a weekend I simply did not stop crying. I was diagnosed with depression and was prescribed anti-depressants. From this time till my discharge, in May 2002, I heard every single negative connotation regarding mental health. I was threatened with a section, at the military psychiatric unit, and told to pull myself together along with many other similar speeches.

I left the military in 2002 and began my transition to civilian life, as an angry service leaver. I was still on anti-depressants until 2004 and managed my life and felt that I was okay. I had tried CBT but at the time it wasn’t for me. I muddled through until late 2015.

It was late 2015 when I visited my GP, for an unrelated ailment, At the time I was asked “was there anything else?” It was at this point that the dam burst, and I became quite emotional. The years of bottling things up had taken their toll and I finally asked for help. However, I knew that I wanted to be fixed and that I felt confident enough that I did not want anti-depressants but I wanted to be fixed. I wanted the answer to why I was feeling the way that I was.

I was referred to GHC and began my journey with a telephone consultation that revealed that I was suffering with PTSD. I knew that I had PTSD, I was sleep poor and my poor sleep was measured in years, I was prone to mood swings, I was withdrawn, I was tired from keeping up the brave face, work was the security blanket and more than that I was ill.

I attended my first session of CBT at the Benet Building and began the slow process of dealing with my depression and getting myself mentally strong enough to deal with the PTSD. It wasn’t fun, but through coaching and a tried and tested process my mood was lifting, and I was coping better with my life. CBT ended and I waited to be signed off before I self-referred for my treatment for my PTSD.

Late 2016 saw me begin IAPT with GHC and I began the difficult and emotional process of treating my PTSD, dealing with emotions that I had buried for 15 years. It was tough and uplifting it taught me a few new tricks and lifted my mood. I had never spoken about the accident and my emotional turmoil, I can now and that is down to me dealing with the things that I had not dealt with. Looking back I can see that I was very ill and I am quite surprised just how ill I was.

My mental health journey continues as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and as speaker on a course where I help others understand mental health. An incidental bonus occurred in 2017 when I also decided to improve my physical health. I started to run, something that has helped a lot I truly advocate running, you don’t have to run but anyone can shuffle, walk or run. The benefits are surprising and now class myself as a runner. I am not the fastest, but I have fun.

It was during one the MHFA England courses I was approached by GHC and I agreed to become an Expert by Experience. My thoughts are simple, if I can help one person then I am happy, if I can help shape something that helps others then I would be very happy.

Blog: Coping with a veteran's mental health issues

Carolyn Stirling-Yeatman, whose husband Jim has been diagnosed with multi-complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), discusses the mental health of veterans and the help and support they both receive from the Veteran’s Mental Health Complex Treatment Service.
Read more>>

Latest news and updates

Better Care Together: Veterans and Mental Health event

After more than 28 months of Covid restrictions, it was a real pleasure to be able to host our recent Better Care Together conference as an in-person event.

Veterans and Mental Health was held at Gloucester Rugby Football Club on Monday 18 July and streamed live online via MS Teams for those unable to make it in person.

The record-breaking temperatures didn’t deter many from coming along to the event, which was well attended by colleagues who work for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHSFT, as well as veterans, community and voluntary sector partners and organisations.

Opened by our Chair, Ingrid Barker, the event concentrated on the key issues concerning veterans’ mental health, with the aim of:

increasing understanding of veterans’ needs and the ways in which veterans might present with mental health problems, including hearing from veterans about their lived experiences of accessing mental health services
understanding the national context of the Armed Forces Covenant and support for veterans
raising awareness of the local mental health support available for veterans from specialist services and other sectors
identifying service gaps and how these might be addressed.

All who attended enjoyed a very interesting day, listening to veterans sharing their mental health journeys and experiences, including Welfare Officer Clair Robinson-Kirk from West Mercia Police, who spoke about how she overcame post-natal depression twice after leaving the armed forces; reinforcing the message: ‘Don’t assume a veteran’s mental health issues are military related’.

Attendees also watched the very emotive film which features further up this page, in which veterans Ashley and Lee talk about how they found the transition to civilian life extremely difficult when leaving the armed forces, and bravely share their experiences around depression and substance misuse.

Debra Elliott, Director of Transformation at the Armed Forces Health Commissioning for England, talked about ‘The Mental Health Needs of Veterans’, and Joanne Lawson, Specialist Occupational Therapist at Op Courage, about the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

During lunch, delegates attended four different breakout groups, co-facilitated by colleagues from GHC and partner organisations. These were:

Breakout Group 1 – What can we do better to support veterans and their mental health?
This group discussed veterans’ experiences of local services to help identify what works well and what could be better. The group included colleagues from Op Courage.
Breakout Group 2 – Forbidden drugs
Facilitated by Dr John Chilton, this group explored substance misuse by veterans and the consequences. It also discussed how we might better address the issues and mitigate the consequences.
Breakout Group 3 – Housing and homelessness
This group considered the scale of the issue and the reasons behind veterans becoming homeless. Attendees discussed specialist housing and how we can better support veterans.
Breakout Group 4 – Isolation
This group sought to understand what isolation means for veterans and why it is such an issue. Attendees discussed the support services available locally and what we could do differently.

Following lunch, GHC’s Chief Operating Officer David Noyes, a former Captain in the Royal Navy; Dr Phillip Fielding, Deputy Medical Director of Physical Health and former Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps; and Andrew Collins-Mills, MBE, Associate Director of Workforce Systems and Planning and former Warrant Officer 1st Class (Staff Sergeant Major), shared their experiences of serving in the armed forces, making the transition to civilian life, and how they ended up working within the NHS.

Community Services Manager and Veterans Steering Group Lead, Jonathan Thomas, then talked proudly about his mum Mollie Thomas, who served in the RAF Bomber Command and who, now in her 90s, is still a formidable character and a force to be reckoned with!

The final talk of the day was given by Service Development Manager Caroline Parker, who spoke very openly about living alongside and supporting a partner suffering with PTSD. Caroline’s candid and very emotive talk really illustrated just how difficult it can be for those supporting loved ones in making the transition to civilian life when leaving the armed forces.

You can see the presentation slides shown at the event here>

Trust celebrates Armed Forces Week with Defence ERS Silver Award

This week (20-26 June) we’re celebrating Armed Forces Week and Armed Forces Day (Saturday 25 June), as well as the fabulous news that our Trust has been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award, in recognition of its commitment and support for defence personnel.

The ERS encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Through this process we pledge to support the armed forces, including existing or prospective employees who are members of the community. The award comes after the we signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant in December 2019, which demonstrates the fact that the Trust is armed forces-friendly and open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.

Our Trust’s commitment to driving improvements in NHS care for veterans, reservists, members of the armed forces and their families was further recognised in May last year, when it was named a Veteran Aware Trust. We officially received the accreditation in June 2021 during a visit from one of the county’s Deputy Lieutenants (pictured above).

Armed Forces Week and Day 2022

Gloucester City Armed Forces Parade and Family Day

To mark Armed Forces Day this Saturday, there will
be a parade from Gloucester Cathedral to the front of the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum at Gloucester Docks, from 12.30pm. Onlookers will also be treated to an historic aircraft flypast.

Down at the Docks from 1pm, there will be a Family Day where visitors can meet members of our armed forces community, visit stalls and enjoy lots of entertainment and live music.

For further information visit the GAFD website>

Deputy Lieutenant presents Trust with Veteran Aware accreditation

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust was officially awarded its Veteran Aware accreditation on 23 June during a visit from one of the county’s Deputy Lieutenants.

Colonel Andy Hodson was “delighted” to present the accreditation on behalf of the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), in recognition of the Trust’s commitment to improving NHS care for veterans, reservists, members of the Armed Forces and their families.

In a brief ceremony attended by some of the Trust’s very own veterans, the accreditation was received by Chief Executive Paul Roberts, Trust Chair Ingrid Barker and Community Services Manager Jonathan Thomas, the Trust’s Veterans Steering Group Lead.

Trust awarded Veteran Aware status

We are delighted to announce that Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS FT has been named a Veteran Aware Trust, in recognition of its commitment to driving improvements in NHS care for veterans, reservists, members of the armed forces and their families.

Veteran Aware Trusts are leading the way in improving veterans’ care within the NHS, as part of the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA).

This accreditation from the VCHA acknowledges the Trust’s commitment to a number of key pledges, including:

Ensuring that the armed forces community is never disadvantaged compared to other patients, in line with the NHS’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant
Training relevant staff on veteran-specific culture or needs
Making veterans, reservists and service families aware of appropriate charities or NHS services beneficial to them, such as mental health services or support with financial and/or benefit claims
Supporting the armed forces as an employer.

Gloucester Rugby Foundation Veterans' Group sessions to restart

Gloucester Rugby Foundation is pleased to announce the return of its Veterans’ Group sessions.

Niki Savory, Community Education Tutor at GRFC, said: “We are aiming to have our sessions back up and running from the week commencing Monday 19 April. The sessions will run every Wednesday, from 1pm to 2.30pm.”

The wellbeing and activity programme is open to current and retired members from any Armed Forces services. It was started in February 2020 with the aim of boosting physical and mental wellbeing, tackling loneliness and isolation, and fundamentally supporting participants to reconnect with old acquaintances and build new friendships.

The vision of the group is to increase opportunities for veterans from the Gloucestershire area to be involved in low-impact physical activity and group-based reminiscence sessions. Alongside supporting overall better health and wellbeing, it aims to encourage social activity, develop resilience, as well as improve self-confidence and self-esteem.

For further information about the Gloucester Rugby Foundation Veterans’ Group contact Niki Savory at nikisavory@gloucesterrugby.co.uk

NHS Veterans' Mental Health High Intensity Service launched

On Thursday 4 March 2021, Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England and NHS Improvement, Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence People and Veterans and Kate Davies CBE, Director of Health and Justice, Armed Forces and Sexual Assault Services Commissioning, NHS England and NHS Improvement, officially launched the new NHS Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service (HIS), at the Veterans’ Mental Health Conference organised by Kings College London Centre for Military Health Research.

From October 2020, the HIS started to mobilise across England, providing a much-needed service for veterans who are struggling with their mental health, are in a mental health crisis and / or need urgent and emergency care and treatment.

Over the last three years, NHS England and NHS Improvement has launched the Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS), the Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) and more recently the Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service (HIS). Together these form a complete mental health care pathway.

All NHS specialist veterans mental health services will now come under the name Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, which has been developed by veterans and their families.

Op COURAGE is part of a nine-point NHS plan to support the armed forces. The new name makes NHS veterans mental health services easier to find and access; a name that inspires hope and bravery and is inclusive and relevant to both the NHS and military life. The change provides a simplified name with a clear ‘front door’ to care and support.

For more information, visit the NHS website.

New name for NHS veterans mental health services

NHS England and NHS Improvement has announced the new name for NHS veterans mental health services.

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is the new name for the Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS), Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) and newly-launched High Intensity Service (HIS).

The name has been developed by the NHS England and NHS Improvement Armed Forces Patient and Public Voice, following feedback from the armed forces community to make it easier for those leaving the military and veterans to get help.

A phased implementation of the new name commenced last Thursday (4 March). This date coincided with the national launch of the Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service which, together with the existing NHS veterans mental health services, means a complete mental health care pathway is now available for those leaving the armed forces and veterans. Whilst the names of these three services is changing, the services will remain as they are.