We are proud to say that we are a Veteran Aware hospital, and that we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

At Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust we are proud to work in an on-site partnership with the Defence Medical Welfare Service.

This means that patients who have served in the UK armed forces are cared for by staff who have received training and education on the specific physical and mental health needs of veterans, and who can signpost them to other local support.

We are a member of the Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance, sharing and driving best practice in NHS care for people who serve or have served in the UK armed forces and their families.

  • We support the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant.
  • We are committed to ensuring no disadvantage and giving special consideration where appropriate.
  • We educate and train our staff to help identify and respond to veterans’ needs.
  • We also support the UK armed forces community as an employer.

If you, your spouse or partner have ever served in the UK armed forces, let us know

Being identified as a veteran in your NHS medical notes will ensure you are able to access specific veterans’ health services, such as those for mental health, hearing loss, limb amputation and wheelchairs.

All veterans are entitled to priority access to NHS care for service-related conditions. However, this is always subject to clinical need and does not mean that you will automatically be treated ahead of others who have a more urgent clinical need.

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Keith Malcolm

Keith is the Armed Forces Covenant Lead Nurse for PHU. His role is to ensure that our hospital adhere to the Armed Forces Covenant of which we have signed. Keith represents patients who are veterans, staff who are ex-military and their families, he is a point of contact for advice and support at PHU. 

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Please use the links below to access more information about becoming Veteran Aware

Online suicide awareness training from Help for Heroes and Zero Suicide Alliance

The Veterans’ Gateway

Is a first point of contact for veterans and their families and can put them in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need. The Veterans’ Gateway can be contacted by:

Phone (0808 802 1212), text (81212) or online

Defence Medical Welfare Service 

Is a charitable organisation that specialises in emotional and practical support when someone is in hospital, and when they are discharged but still receiving treatment. They will arrange to speak to the patient to help identify services and support, and enable referrals to a range of military and non-military organisations. Contact the Defence Medical Welfare Service by:

Phone on 01264 774000 

Veterans and Families’ Directory of Services 

Is an online and searchable map of services for the Armed Forces Community. All NHS staff can access the app at www.vfds.co.uk

Combat Stress

Is a charity which supports veterans’ mental health, helping  former servicemen and women deal with trauma-related mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Treatment can be provided to veterans from every service and every conflict, in a range of settings, including phone, online and in the community or a specialist centre.

Mesothelioma Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Trust has a member pf staff devoted to the needs of Veterans, many of whom have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their military service. Anne Moylan can help support Veterans who suffer in this way.

Email Anne.moylan@porthosp.nhs.uk

Age UK Portsmouth

Provides a range of services for older people in the local area, including The Veterans’ Information Point, supported by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. The Information Point  offers free, independent and confidential information, advice and support to military veterans and active servicemen and women in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire.

Joining Forces Portsmouth

Provides free befriending support and a range of social activities for lonely or isolated military veterans and their dependents in Portsmouth and the surrounding area.

Solent Armed Forces Covenant Partnership

Brings together the local military, councils, statutory, public, and voluntary organisations to strengthen delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant across the region. This partnerships can support and provide information to members of the Armed Forces community and those working with them in relation to accessing education and family well-being, having a home, starting a new career and access to healthcare in the local area.  

Email armedforcesspoc@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

The Royal British Legion

Provides lifelong support for members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and their families. Key services include household repairs, home adaptations, financial advice, care homes, dementia care, Admiral Nurses (dementia care) and a care phone service.

Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Services

If a former service member has acquired hearing loss and/or tinnitus relating to their time in service, additional support can be funded through the Royal British Legion Veterans’ Hearing Fund. The audiology department at the Trust can make a referral or an application form can be downloaded via the Veterans’ Medical Funds webpage at www.rbl.org.uk/vmf.

Mobility Equipment Support

The Royal British Legion has a Veterans’ Mobility Fund, which provides specialist wheelchairs, orthotic equipment and other mobility-related items for veterans who have a service-related serious physical injury and whose needs cannot be met through statutory services. Eligibility for the fund requires the condition to be attributable to service and typically applicants will be in receipt of a War Pension or relevant award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.  To find out more, visit www.rbl.org.uk/vmf.

NHS Transition, Intervention and Liaison mental health service

This services is for armed forces personnel approaching discharge and veterans. The service provides a range of treatment, from access to early support to therapeutic treatment for complex mental health difficulties and psychological trauma. It also provides help, where appropriate, with other problems, for example money, employment or housing.South East.

Phone 0300 365 0300

Veterans’ Trauma Network

Provides specialist care to veterans with service-specific injuries. Veterans benefit from a personalised care plan implemented by top military and civilian trauma experts in health centres across England. 

Referrals can be made at:

england.veteranstraumanetwork@nhs.net.

For more information:

Email BLESMA at bsoprosthetics@blesma.org

Phone 0208 548 7080.

Help for Heroes

Provides recovery and support for members of the Armed Forces community whose lives are affected by their service, no matter when they served.  The charity’s aim is to empower veterans and service personnel to look beyond illness and injury. A wide range of services is offered, including emotional support, mental health and wellbeing, career recovery, welfare and financial advice.

SSAFA

Provides lifelong support for veterans and their families. Trained SSAFA volunteers can provide practical, emotional and financial support if and when veterans need it, via a network of local branches means that help and advice is always close at hand.

Veterans Outreach Support (VOS)

Based in the Royal Maritime Club (formerly the Royal Sailors Home Club) in Portsmouth, VOS has been providing a monthly drop-in facility for ex-serviceman and their direct family members since July 2008.  VOS supports Veterans with advice on mental health and wellbeing, welfare, housing, employment, finances and legal matters. Drop-ins are on the first Wednesday of every month from 2pm to 6pm in the Royal Maritime Club, Portsmouth, and on the third Wednesday of every month from 1pm to 5pm in the Riverside Centre, Newport, Isle of Wight.

Rowans Veterans Living Well Service

Is a dedicated support service for ex Service Personnel who are living with or caring for someone with a serious or life-limiting illness, or are recently bereaved.  The services offered include a Veterans’ Companions’ buddy service.

Email tina.millard@rowanshospice.co.uk

Phone 023 9224 8011

Drop in to Rowans Living Well Centre at Purbrook Heath Road, Purbook, PO7 5RU