NHS Lincolnshire ICB and the Armed Forces Covenant

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

The Armed Forces Covenant is a part of the NHS Constitution.

  • Statutory responsibilities came into effect November 2022
  • Have a legal duty to have due regard to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant when exercising certain statutory functions in housing, healthcare and education.
  •  It is not prescriptive about the actions we should take, and it does not mandate specific public service delivery outcomes
  • In healthcare, veterans and service families might experience more challenges in accessing healthcare, or more delays in receiving treatment, compared to non-Service patients
  • Relates to ICBs, NHS Trusts, Primary Care including dental, pharmacy and health screening

John-Turner-NHS-Lincolnshire-ICB-Chief-Executive-signing-the-Armed-Forces-Covenant
Photo: John Turner, NHS Lincolnshire ICB Chief Executive, re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant. Credit: Andrew Wheeler.
Armed Forces Covenant

The ICB, along with our partners, is committed to ensuring members of the Armed Forces Community receive equitable access to health and social care services, and that those who have served should receive priority treatment where it relates to a condition that results from their service in the Armed Forces, subject to clinical need.

NHS Commitments

Responsibility for Armed Forces healthcare is split between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the NHS. Defence Medical services (DMS) provide a range of services for regular serving personnel in the UK, those serving overseas and in some cases their families.

As NHS Lincolnshire ICB we are responsible for the health and care of those who have served and the families of those who are serving if they are registered with a Lincolnshire GP practice. In addition, NHS England commissions some bespoke services for veterans. We have a large armed forces community living in Lincolnshire.

In early 2021 NHS England published ‘Healthcare for the armed forces community: a forward view’. This document sets out the NHS’ nine commitments to improve healthcare services for the Armed Forces community.

  • Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

    In 2023, the ICB was awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) silver award, in recognition of its support to defence and for the Armed Forces community in Lincolnshire, having previously achieved the bronze award in 2022.

    The bronze award was recognition that, as an organisation, we have pledged to support the Armed Forces, including existing or prospective employees who are members of the Armed Forces community. The silver award represents a step up in the ICB’s commitments including demonstrating that it is proactively supporting those who are serving or have served, as well as other members of the Armed Forces community, to work for the local NHS. 

    The ICB is proud to support the Armed Forces community across the county. Lincolnshire has a proud history with the military and continues to play a vital part in today’s Armed Forces. 

    In the video above you can listen to Jacqui Bunce talk about the ICB being awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) silver award and what it means to the organisation.

  • Veteran Friendly GP practices

    Veteran Friendly GP accreditation is a programme run by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and NHS England to recognise and support practices in delivering the best possible care and treatment for patients who have served in the armed forces.

    It does not prioritise Veterans over non-Veteran patients

    It does provide training and ongoing support to help practices identify their Veteran patients and make the best use of the specific treatment pathways and other services that exist for Veterans e.g. Op COURAGE, Op RESTORE.

    The Veteran Friendly GP practices programme is important to patients and practices because it:

    • Ensures that veterans can access the right care at the right time.
    • Supports practices to identify and code their veterans.
    • Provides accredited practices with an information pack to help increase their understanding of the health needs of veterans, the services available to them, and ongoing information and support
    • Practices provide evidence that they are supportive of veterans’ healthcare (reaching out to a community and in many cases, part of their Core 20 + 5).

    As of 1st October 2024, in Lincolnshire 53 GP practices (65.4%) are accredited, 28 are not yet accredited. The ICB is currently ranked sixth out of 11 ICBs in the midlands and 22nd out of 42 ICBS in England. Five of our Primary Care Networks – Meridian, Lincoln Heath Partnership, Spalding, Four Counties, and K2 Healthcare Sleaford – have all of their GP practices accredited.

     
     
  • Veteran Aware Health Care

    There is more information available via the link below about how the NHS can help if you’re in the British armed forces or are a veteran, a reservist or a family member of someone who is serving or who has served. Healthcare for the armed forces community – NHS.

  • Op Courage (LPFT)

    Monday 1 April 2024 marked one year since the veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service Op COURAGE came together as the midlands partnership, offering the full range of mental health and wellbeing services across the region. Since then, the service has supported more than 1,500 veterans, service leavers, reservists and their families across both the East and West Midlands.

    Developed with people who have served in the Armed Forces and experienced mental ill health, Op COURAGE works together with charities and NHS services to make sure people who have served and are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing get the specialist care, support and treatment for their specific needs.

    For more information visit the LPFT website Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership turns one :: Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust or visit Op COURAGE | The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

  • Joint NHS Armed Forces Health Symposium
    Joint NHS Armed Forces Health Symposium

    In a first of its kind for Lincolnshire, during Armed Forces Week in  June, the NHS and the Armed Forces held a joint event to review how the NHS is working to meet the needs of those in Lincolnshire who are serving, have served, and their families.

    The Armed Forces and the NHS in Lincolnshire Symposium held at RAF Cranwell also looked at what can be done to further strengthen the links between the NHS and the Armed Forces community in the future.

    “We take our commitment to the Armed Forces very seriously, as we considered at the Symposium and as demonstrated by the  re-signing of the Armed Forces Covenant.  We have got some great work underway in Lincolnshire in support of this commitment to veterans and our Armed Forces colleagues and their families, but we are determined to do more,” comments John Turner, Chief Executive Officer, NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board.

    The innovative symposium was attended by over 70 people from across the NHS, the Armed Forces, and the Third Sector, and was a fantastic opportunity to meet and discuss how the NHS can better work with and support serving personnel, those who have served, and their families going forwards.

    Photo: Attendees at the inaugural NHS Armed Forces Health Symposium, June 2024, on the steps of College Hall Officers Mess, RAF Cranwell. Credit Andrew Wheeler.

Useful links:

Lincolnshire Armed Forces Veterans and Families Network – for more information visit Lincolnshire Military, Veterans & Families Wellbeing Network – Every-One.