UK military veteran-friendly GP practices

What is it about?

About 5% of the UK population are military veterans and have specific medical needs sometimes different from the general population. Veterans may be reluctant to seek help or talk about their problems, which means they do not always access care, support and treatments that are available. Others may face difficulty getting the right help. Veterans may think ‘civilians’ do not understand military culture or know about options for help and services that are available. Experience has shown that general practitioners (GPs) would like more help and support when looking after veterans. The Royal College of General Practitioners has developed the ‘Veteran Friendly GP Practice Accreditation Programme’, which involves a simple online process of accreditation where practices are required to meet the specified criteria and provide evidence that they are supportive of veterans’ healthcare. The aim is to improve healthcare provided to veterans and their families by GPs working in primary healthcare.

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Why is it important?

Veterans often have special health needs that may not be obvious at the time of presentation to their GPs. Recognising that a presenting complaint may be linked to a time when the veteran was in service may help identify the cause of their problem. Mental health issues may well relate to the time served on military operations in austere environments. Under the Military Covenant, veterans should not be disadvantaged. An understanding of the health needs of veterans will better place GPs in providing healthcare to veterans and ensures their commitment to the Military Covenant.

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