The Hospital Guide for the Armed Forces Community and Veterans Passport have been created through partnership working, using veterans’ lived experience to ensure they provide clear, practical support for veterans, their families and carers when accessing hospital services.
Initiated by an Armed Forces Oversight Group set up within the Trust to improve outcomes for Armed Forces communities, the guide and passport were created due to feedback received about hospital care. The Trust heard from members of the Armed Forces community that, while support was available, it was not always clear what they could access or what to expect when attending hospital.
Working with Doncaster Council’s Armed Forces Covenant, the Trust brought together local Armed Forces organisations, veteran groups and community networks to shape the resources. Veterans from organisations including the Royal British Legion, Fit Forces, Doncaster Veterans Network and DBTH’s Community Collective shared their experiences to ensure the guidance reflected the needs of those using healthcare services.
The Hospital Guide explains what veterans and serving members of the UK Armed Forces can expect when accessing care at DBTH, while the Veterans Passport provides a practical document that veterans can take to appointments to record information about their service history, personal circumstances and any additional support needs.
Together, these resources form part of DBTH’s wider commitment to the Armed Forces community. The Trust is proud to be a Veteran Aware organisation and has also been awarded the Silver Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award, recognising its commitment to supporting veterans, reservists, service leavers, military families and the wider Armed Forces community.
Denise Smith, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Responsible Officer for the DBTH Armed Forces Oversight Group, said: “Supporting the Armed Forces community is important to the Trust, and we are proud to be recognised as both a Veteran Aware organisation and through the Silver Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award.
“This work is a great example of what can be achieved through collaboration. By bringing together colleagues, partners and veterans with lived experience, we have created resources that are practical, meaningful and shaped around the needs of those who will use them.
“We want every veteran who accesses our services to feel recognised, respected and supported, and these resources are an important step in helping us achieve that.”
Richard Woodhouse, Health Inequalities Manager and Chair of the DBTH Armed Forces Oversight Group, said: “This work started because we listened to feedback from our Armed Forces community and understood that, although support was available, it was not always clear what veterans and their families could access or what they could expect when coming into hospital.
“By working directly with veterans and our community partners, we have created resources that provide clearer guidance and help veterans feel more confident and supported when accessing healthcare.”
Mick Miller, Royal British Legion Chair and Branch Community Co-ordinator for Thorne and District Branch, said: “I wanted to understand how sharing information about military service would actually help the care and support received.
“The Hospital Guide and Passport shapes this, with the guide helping to explain how a veteran’s service can be considered within a healthcare setting and what support is available, while the Veterans Passport gives veterans a way to share information about their service, personal circumstances and health.
“By involving veterans in developing these resources, we have created something practical that helps healthcare professionals understand the individual and provide more appropriate support.”
The Hospital Guide for the Armed Forces Community and Veterans Passport are available on the DBTH website: www.dbth.nhs.uk/hospital-care-for-the-armed-forces-community/
