NHS trust praised for veteran care with national accreditation
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has now been named as a Veteran Aware organisation by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA).
To mark the achievement, a plaque was unveiled at the trust's head office at Tatchbury Mount in Calmore, during a ceremony attended by trust chair Neil Hayward and chief executive Ron Shields.
HIOWH Veteran Aware plaque unveiling (Image: NHS) Andy Spencer, trust lead for the Armed Forces programme, said: "Becoming Veteran Aware wasn't a tick-box exercise.
"We had to demonstrate real, measurable commitment, including training staff to understand military culture and service-related health needs, ensuring clear and straightforward referral pathways for those who need them, and continuing to promote our role as a Forces-friendly employer.
"This plaque represents our enduring promise to deliver outstanding care that recognises the strengths and experiences of those who serve."
The Veteran Aware accreditation recognises NHS organisations that deliver high-quality care to veterans, serving personnel, and their families, with an understanding of the unique needs of the Armed Forces community.
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The Hampshire and Isle of Wight trust serves one of the UK's largest Armed Forces populations, with an estimated 175,000 people—nearly nine per cent of the local population—connected to military service.
Professor Tim Briggs CBE, chair of the VCHA, praised the progress being made nationally.
Professor Briggs said: "More and more NHS trusts are seeing the value of Veteran Aware accreditation.
"We have only four NHS trusts across England left to accredit, which is a testament both to the dedication of the VCHA team and to the wider NHS family who work tirelessly on behalf of the military community despite the many pressures they will be under."
The trust's Armed Forces programme includes a dedicated Armed Forces lead and a network of more than 150 staff with military connections.
Initiatives include identifying veterans on patient records, staff training on military culture, and clear referral pathways to specialist services.
Andy added: "This plaque unveiling isn't the end, it's a milestone.
"We will continue to build on this foundation: listening, learning, and improving."
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