Top tips for veterans

It is important to always be registered with a GP, rather than wait until you need treatment. If you move to a different area, you will need to reregister with a local practice each time. Details of local practices can be found on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk.

If you’ve recently left the UK Armed Forces, it is important to give your GP the paperwork that your military medical centre gave you, including any medical records. This will help to make sure your military health record transfers to your NHS health record. This will also give your GP information on your health and ensure that any ongoing care and treatment is continued.

Regardless of when you left the military, tell your GP that you’ve served in the UK Armed Forces. This will help your GP to better understand any military related health conditions you may have and ensure you are referred, where appropriate, to dedicated services for veterans. This includes specialist mental and physical health services OpCOURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service.

When using these services, you will be able to speak to people who:

• understand the Armed Forces and military life
• are either from the Armed Forces community or highly experienced in working with serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families
• will work with you to make sure you get the right type of specialist care, support, and treatment
• work closely with a range of organisations and charities, including military charities, to support your wider health

With your agreement, it can sometimes be helpful for your doctor to refer you to Armed Forces charities, such as SSAFA, the Royal British Legion, Combat Stress or Help for Heroes. They can often offer significant help and support, even if they do not all deliver healthcare.

You may be worried about sharing information about your time in the Armed Forces. Please note that the NHS is bound by a confidentiality code of practice to ensure GPs, nurses and other people working within the NHS deliver a confidential service bound by law.

For more information visit the NHS website: Healthcare for the armed forces community

Step-by-step guide for service leavers: Step-by-step guide for service leavers.