From Service to Civilian - A report on how support for veterans evolves after discharge

This project was undertaken following a 2024 update by Kent Public Health to its Armed 
Forces Needs Assessment, which highlighted how previous engagement to understand 
veterans’ experiences of health and social care had been limited. 

115 UK Armed Forces Veterans that live in Kent and Medway completed our research survey. 

Our reflections and learnings from the survey results are:

Physical Health - The most frequently mentioned issue – difficulty in getting an appointment or seeing their GP – is a common experience within the wider population. However, by understanding that many veterans have a previous experience of healthcare access being fast and exclusive, a combination of signposting and reframing expectations would improve veteran experiences.

Mental Health - Within the veteran community that we spoke to, there is an understanding that there is a set of unique needs, particularly in regard to mental health, whereby specially trained staff or staff with their own experience of the Armed Forces could help achieve better health outcomes.

Wider Social Issues - Some Veterans link employment as an important part of their health and wellbeing, with a lack of support received around post discharge employment. Consideration of integrating employment support into signposting provided around general veteran health and wellbeing could be considered to address this.

Armed Forces Covenant and Veteran Friendly Accreditation - There is an awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant and Veteran Friendly accreditation, but with differing ideas of what accessing a ‘Veteran Friendly’ GP or other health service is like for a veteran. Better communication from the surgery to its veteran patients on how they benefit from the Veteran Friendly accreditation in the care they receive would help alleviate the difference in expectations.