NHS 24 supports veterans with new online guide

Accessed via the NHS website, the guide highlights the help available to the six per cent of Scotland’s population who have served in the armed forces, either as a regular or a reserve.

Featuring information about veterans’ health rights, it includes guidance on priority treatment for service-related conditions, physical and mental health resources, as well as welfare and financial support.

The guide also explains that every NHS board in Scotland has an Armed Forces and Veterans Champion, usually a senior member of staff, who holds overall responsibility for making sure that the priority treatment guidelines are understood and applied in their NHS board area.

Brenda Wilson, veterans champion and deputy director of nursing at NHS24, said: “NHS24 is committed to ensuring veterans have equality of access to our services. I am grateful to the many veterans and veteran organisations, who have worked with us to create a resource which will help to remove any existing barriers there are for veterans seeking out the help and support that they are entitled to.”

NHS 24 worked closely with veterans’ organisations to better understand them and their families, and to create a guide which suits their specific need.

Rebecca Barr, director of Scottish War Blinded said: “Veterans can often miss out on a wealth of support available to them, either because they are unaware it is available, or because they don’t realise they count as a veteran. Anyone who has received pay for at least one day’s service in the UK Armed Forces is classed as a veteran.

To find out more, search ‘Veterans’ on NHSinform.scot.