We are an Armed Forces veteran friendly accredited practice
This means that, as part of the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant, we have a dedicated clinician who has a specialist knowledge of military related health conditions and veteran specific health services. This is important in helping ex-forces to get the best care and treatment. The dedicated clinician for veterans is Dr Catherine McTernan. If you have served for one day or more in the British Armed Forces, please let us know.
(Description of image: Certificate of Accreditation awarded to Fenham Hall Medical Group on the 10th of November 2022 for meeting the standards required to become an Armed Forces veteran friendly accredited GP practice and supporting the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant, signed by Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of Practitioners, Dr Jonathan Leech, Medical Director for the Armed Forces Health, NHS England and NHS Improvement, and Katie Davies CBE, Director of Health and Justice, Armed Forces and Sexual Assault Services Commissioning, NHS England and NHS Improvement)
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NHS Mental Health Care for Veterans
Mental illness is common and can affect anyone (including serving and ex-members of the Armed Forces and their families). Whilst some people cope by getting support from their family and friends, or by getting help with other issues in their lives, others need clinical care and treatment, which could be from the NHS, support groups or charities.
Accessing NHS mental health care for veterans
Access to both of these services is through the TILS. You can contact the service direct (see below) or ask your GP or a military charity to refer you.
North of England services: call 0303 123 1145 or email vwals@nhs.net
Midlands or East of England services: call 0300 323 0137 or email mevs.mhm@nhs.net
London or South East of England services: call 020 3317 6818 or email cim-tr.veteranstilservice-lse@nhs.net
South West of England services: call 0300 365 0300 or email sc.veterans@nhs.net
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Veteran's Gateway
To access these services you must:
- be a resident in England and have served in the UK Armed Forces for a full day
- be registered with a GP practice in England or be willing and eligible to register with a GP
- provide your military service number or another form of eligibility.
Both services work with a range of local organisations, including the wider NHS, charities, housing, employment agencies and social services, to ensure the appropriate support is in place for you and your family.
If you experience a mental health crisis (when you no longer feel able to cope or are not in control of your situation) before being assessed by the TILS and you are not under the care of a mental health team, you can get help by dialling 111, booking an emergency GP appointment, visiting A&E or calling 999. If you are still serving, you can also call the Military Mental Health Helpline on 0800 323 4444.
It is important to register with an NHS GP and tell them that you have served in the Armed Forces so, where appropriate, you can access these and other dedicated services for veterans.
For more information, visit the NHS website and search for "veteran", visit NHS Veteran or NHS Armed Forces Community
For further mental health information, please click here.
Top tips for veterans – how to get the most from your GP
- On leaving the military, register with an NHS GP as soon as you can – don’t leave it until you urgently need to see a doctor or nurse. In England, a good way to find out what NHS services are in your local area, is to visit here.
- When you register with an NHS GP, tell them that you are a military veteran so they can put this in your patient notes. Your practice can then ask for your military health records. Please note that in some areas of England there are some NHS GP surgeries that have a doctor or nurse that has specific knowledge about the military. You may consider registering at this surgery.
- It can sometimes take a while for your military health records to arrive at your NHS GP surgery, although you will be given a summary of any medical care whilst you have been in uniform. If you have been getting hospital care or are having complex treatment, before you leave the services, ask your military doctor for a print out of your notes to give to your NHS doctor. A good time to ask would be at your final medical examination, which is often done about two months before handing in your ID card.
- To check your military health records completely transfer into your NHS GP records, ensure that you give your NHS GP the paperwork that your military medical centre gave you. Please note that your medical records cannot be transferred until all of your administrative discharge arrangements are complete from your personnel centre.
- Being flagged as a veteran in your NHS medical notes will help to ensure that you are able to access specific veterans’ health services, such as those for mental health, hearing loss, limb amputation and wheelchairs.
- It also means that where you have an illness or medical condition that has been caused by your time in service or occurred whilst you were in the military, you may be entitled to a shorter hospital waiting list. For example, if you developed skin cancer as a result of serving overseas for many years, this would be included. However, if you need a gall bladder operation, it would be unlikely that this was due to military service and so you would be treated as a typical NHS patient. This is part of the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant.
- With your consent, it can sometimes be helpful for your doctor to refer you to specific service charities, such as SSAFA, Royal British Legion, BLESMA or Help for Heroes. They can often offer significant help and support, even if they do not all deliver health care.
- You may be worried about discussing elements of your time in service. Please note that the NHS is bound by a confidentiality code of practice to ensure GPs, nurses and other people working within the NHS deliver a confidential service bound by law.