Armed forces covenant

We are proud to have received the silver award from the employer recognition scheme. It shows our commitment to supporting the continued employment armed forces’ veterans, reservists and their families, ensuring that their valuable skills and experience are recognised in other sectors.

The silver award is presented under the government’s defence employer recognition scheme (ERS) in acknowledgement of our efforts to become a forces friendly employer.

Our armed forces work is guided and driven by the veteran strategy action plan (opens in new window).

Veteran aware

Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) is proud to have achieved veteran aware accreditation status, formally recognising our commitment to the armed forces community. This means we are part of a group of NHS providers that have agreed to be exemplars of the best care for, and support to, the armed forces’ community.

The community should enjoy the same standard of, and access to, healthcare as that received by any other UK citizen in the area they live and should receive priority treatment where it relates to a condition that results from their service in the armed forces, subject to clinical need.

The accreditation complements our own pledge (promise 11) in the RDaSH Clinical and Organisation Strategy 2023 to 2028:

“Deliver in full the NHS’ commitment to veterans and those within our service communities, recognising the specific needs many have, especially for access to suitable mental health and trauma responsive services.”

A member of the armed forces community could be:

• regular and reserves that are serving British Armed Forces (Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, Royal Air Force)
• veterans of the armed forces who have served at least one day in His Majesty’s armed forces
• Polish free forces who served in World War 2
• merchant navy who have served in support of British military operations (Suez, Falklands)
• Afghan interpreters who have supported the work of the British Armed Forces
• immediate family (partners, children) of those who are or have served in the British Armed Forces

For this accreditation, our nominated senior lead is Joanne McDonough, Director of Strategy, and our nominated clinical lead is Katie Merrills, cognitive behavioural therapist in the Rotherham Talking Therapies service.

The need to support the armed forces community can be clearly identified within population data which shows that there are a significant number of service leavers living within the geographical footprint of RDaSH. Recent data suggests that there are approximately 28,728 veterans across Doncaster, Rotherham and North Lincolnshire, and this equates to 3.86% of the population which is typically higher than the UK regional average of 2.9%.

Your care

Please let us know if you or a family member have ever served in the UK armed forces so that we can best support your care needs.

Being identified as a member of the armed forces community in your NHS medical notes will ensure you are able to access specific health services. You can also access the veteran resources page (opens in new window).

Page last reviewed: September 30, 2024
Next review due: September 30, 2025