The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise which ensures serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans, reservists, and their families, are treated fairly, with dignity, and with understanding of the sacrifice they have made. This Remembrance Day, the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) reaffirms its dedication to providing high quality care for members of this community.
Suffolk is unique in its link with the Armed Forces, with Army, Royal Air Force, and United States Air Force bases across the county. While one in 13 people have a direct link to the military nationally, in Suffolk it is one in seven.
As an NHS Veteran Aware accredited organisation, WSFT understands and meets the specific needs of the Armed Forces community, is strongly committed to improving care and support for them and ensures the impact of military service is appropriately considered when providing care.
The Trust also offers dedicated support to people with Armed Forces connections by ensuring staff are aware of the array of support services available to them and aims to create a welcoming environment for this community.
Ewen Cameron, chief executive officer for the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Remembrance Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and service of members of our Armed Forces community, past and present. We are proud to support serving personnel, veterans, reservists, and their families through our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and our Veteran Aware accreditation.
“We know military service can have a lasting impact and we strive to ensure they receive high quality and compassionate care, while feeling recognised and valued.”
The Trust encourages patients to let healthcare teams know if they are part of this community so staff understand individual circumstances and ensure patients have access to appropriate support.
Ian Coe, chief nursing information officer, Armed Forces veteran, and Armed Forces champion at WSFT said: “Every year we remember those who have fought, fallen, and made huge sacrifices in service of their country. It’s incredibly important we learn of anyone’s connection to the Armed Forces, so it can be logged and the care they receive is provided with that insight in mind.
“As one of many Armed Forces veterans at the Trust, we have received dedicated training in order to act as Armed Forces champions, and I’m proud of the support we provide.”
A service took place at the West Suffolk Hospital’s chapel from 10.50am on Wednesday, 11 November, led by the Trust’s senior leadership team, and welcomed, staff, patients, and visitors, to recognise and remember those who have served, sacrificed, and lost their lives in military service, while also recognising the ongoing contribution made by veterans, reservists and military families.
