Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust re-accredited as NHS Veteran Aware organisation
Following the recent week of Remembrance, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) were proud to be officially re-accredited as an NHS Veteran Aware organisation.
NHS Veteran Aware aims to ensure patients from the Armed Forces Community are not disadvantaged by their special circumstances when accessing healthcare.
Accreditation supports NHS trusts, and an increasing number of independent healthcare providers and hospices, to pay due regard to the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant, part of the Armed Forces Act (2021), is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve, or who have served, in the Armed Forces, and their families, are not disadvantaged when accessing healthcare.
John Clague, Transformation Manager and Armed Forces Staff Network Chair at RCHT, said: “Our re-accreditation shows we are Veteran Aware, and is particularly special for Cornwall following Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s recent re-accreditation. We all have a part to play in embedding this as standard practice, asking patients if they have a connection to HM Armed Forces and then drawing upon support from the NHS, Ministry of Defence and many charities to help with their recovery. I would like to thank every single member of staff who supports our Armed Forces Community when they are treated in Cornwall”.
Speaking about ways in which our hospitals have supported and raised awareness around Armed Forces Week, Reservists Day and Remembrance Day events, John explains:
“RCHT regularly takes part in local initiatives that respect and support veterans, reservists, and their families across Cornwall. This includes working with serving personnel at RNAS Culdrose and RAF St Mawgan to assist their families, offering support to Reservists at 6 Rifles and 243 Medical Services Squadron in Truro and attending local commemoration events in Truro and Penzance. Our Armed Forces Staff Network works with Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to support staff in what can be complicated lives. This is particularly important for family members of those who serve in HMS Armed Forces in Cornwall and much further afield.”
Looking ahead, RCHT plans to strengthen its Armed Forces engagement. This includes working closely with Cornwall Council and Active Plus – a veteran run Community Interest Company, which can help veterans with their recovery in hospital. RCHT plans to mark Reserves Day next year during Armed Forces Week, as well as the Month of the Military Child in April to recognise and support children in military families and their unique sacrifices and resilience.
“We’re now focused on maintaining this support,” John continues, “The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance’s launched their National Training and Education Programme this week, delivering a presentation to ED colleagues. Looking ahead to June 2026, our new Electronic Patient Record – eCare – will make it easier to record and display a patient’s Armed Forces Status, helping us to improve the care we deliver in hospital. With support from our communication team, we’re also updating our digital and printed materials to make sure veterans and reservists know that RCHT is here for them.”
Accreditation is overseen by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA). In a joint statement to RCHT, co-chairs of the VCHA, General Lord Dannatt GCB, CBE and Prof Tim Briggs CBE, said:
“It is our pleasure to congratulate Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust on their successful reaccreditation as a Veteran Aware Trust. This reaccreditation recognises the work of RCHT in demonstrating the NHS’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, and in identifying and sharing best practice across the NHS as an exemplar of the best standards of care for the Armed Forces community.”
Steve Williamson, Chief Executive for RCHT, said of the news:
“Working closely with our Armed Forces communities across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is part of a proud history at RCHT. Recognising this ongoing commitment is so important to us, as we’ve worked hard on developing access into our services for armed forces personnel and their families, as well as creating pathways of employment into our organisation for those who have served, those who serve, and their families. To be re-accredited as an NHS Veteran Aware organisation is evidence of this commitment to supporting equity and fairness for armed forces colleagues, for their families, and those who served in the past.”