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UHBW NHS

UHBW awarded ‘Veteran Aware’ status

Last updated: 06/03/2023

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) has become one of the latest NHS trusts to be accredited as Veteran Aware, formally recognising our commitment to the armed forces community.

Accreditation was carried out by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), which is a group of NHS healthcare providers in England, who are committed to providing the best standards of care for the armed forces, past, present and their families in England based on the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve, or who have served, in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

Emma Wood, Chief People Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at UHBW, said:

“We’re very proud to have achieved ‘Veteran Aware’ status at the Trust. Being supportive and respectful are two of our Trust values, which are exemplified in our approach to caring for veterans, including those that present with conditions associated with service in the UK armed forces.

“As part of this, the Trust is forming a staff Veterans Oversight Group to bring together people with insights and experience of UK armed forces. This will be a vital resource that helps develop trust policies and initiatives. Together, we continuously aim to ensure appropriate services are available for current or previous members of the armed forces at UHBW.”

VCHA Regional Lead Bernadette Knight said:

“I am delighted with the work by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston in achieving this accreditation award. The quality of your accreditation submission reflects the depth to which Veteran Aware accreditation is now building in wider Trust business, I am so pleased that the commitment of the Trust with the Armed Forces agenda has been recognised in this way.”

VCHA Chairman, Prof Tim Briggs CBE, said:

“More and more Trusts are seeing the value of Veteran Aware accreditations as seen through the numbers of Trusts that are now accredited. We now stand at 65% of NHS Trusts across England, which is a testament both to the dedication of my team and to the wider NHS family who work tirelessly on behalf of the military community despite the many pressures they will be under. Well done all.”