Veteran Aware Trust – one year review approved by NCIC

The Veteran Aware accreditation is part of NCIC’s commitment to better support our armed forces community.

The accreditation recognises the Trust’s work identifying and sharing best practice across the NHS highlighting the best standards of care for the Armed Forces community.

The improvement work has been taken forward by the Armed Forces Working Group which has been set up by non-executive director Teresa Griffiths. 

She said: "Veterans accreditation is a three-year quality improvement programme and I am delighted that the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) has endorsed our first-year report.

"Over the last 12 months, we have made significant process in raising awareness regarding the needs of our Armed Forces community.

"Having achieved real success for our staff, we now need to turn the spotlight on how we can better support our AF patients. 

"This is a great achievement but it is only possible through the commitment and hard work of all the AF Working Group members."

General Lord Dannatt, VCHA Patron, and Professor Tim Briggs CBE, VCHA National Lead, wrote to our chief executive Lyn Simpson to inform her of the news.

Their letter said: “Following the Trust’s initial accreditation, awarded in March 2023, it is evident there has been significant work undertaken by those responsible for this agenda in your organisation and the submission shows commitment to the military community with significant evidence in terms of continuous improvement and raising awareness of the healthcare needs of the Armed Forces Community across wider teams and departments. 

"The VCHA Regional Lead will continue to review progress as the Trust moves forward with plans to record armed forces community status within the Trust’s Patient Administration System/s.

“We thank you for your hard work demonstrating the NHS's commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and look forward to following your continued progress.”