Oxleas joins wave of Veteran Aware trusts improving Armed Forces care

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Oxleas NHS has joined a wave of Veteran Aware trusts who are working hard to improve care for our Armed Forces community.

The Veteran Aware Trust accreditation has been made by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) in recognition of our commitment to improving NHS care for veterans, reservists, members of the Armed Forces and their families.

It acknowledges our commitment as a trust to a number of key pledges, including:

  • Ensuring that the Armed Forces community is never disadvantaged compared to other patients, in line with the NHS’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant
  • Training relevant staff on veteran specific culture and needs
  • Making veterans, reservists and service families aware of appropriate charities of NHS services beneficial to them, such as mental health and financial support

Supporting the Armed Forces as an employer

We are now one of 87 members of the VCHA and part of a growing number of NHS trusts gaining this accolade. As a trust, we are now working towards Gold Standard certification as a forces-friendly employer.

Dr Ify Okocha, Interim Chief Executive for Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is exciting news for Oxleas. We are firmly committed to supporting veterans and it is great to see the efforts of colleagues acknowledged in this way. I am sure this will encourage continued focus in this important area of work."

Published on 12th August 2021