VE Day anniversary: Government pledges improved healthcare for veterans
Armed forces veterans and their families will benefit from improved and targeted healthcare, the government has announced, as the nation marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
A £1.8m training programme will ensure NHS staff across the country are supported to meet the unique health needs of veterans, serving personnel and their families.
Writing in The Yorkshire Post to announce the funding, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Here in Yorkshire, the connection between the community and the Armed Forces runs deep.
“From Catterick Garrison – the Army's largest base in Europe – to RAF Leeming and the historic connections of York and Sheffield to military service, our region's military heritage is woven into the fabric of our local identity.
“That's why I wanted to speak directly to residents today about an important new programme that will make a real difference to caring for our military community right here.
“Although our local NHS staff do their absolute best, they sometimes struggle to understand the unique health challenges that come with military service.
“Whether it's combat-related injuries, mental health concerns from deployments, or the strain that military life places on families – these experiences require specialist understanding.
“Our new programme will ensure that NHS staff across Yorkshire receive dedicated training to help them identify and support patients with military backgrounds.”
The Government said this will help deliver more personalised care, and ultimately improve health outcomes for veterans and their families.
“Yorkshire's proud military history means you have one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country,” Mr Streeting wrote.
“Many local families have supported loved ones through deployments, house moves, and the challenges of transitioning to civilian life.
“They deserve healthcare professionals who understand these unique pressures.
“When we stand in silence on VE Day to honour the sacrifices made by a generation of service personnel, we weren't just remembering the past.
“We were also recommitting ourselves to supporting those who serve today, and those who will serve tomorrow.”
Carol Betteridge, of Help for Heroes, added: “We look forward to working with NHS England to share our experience and help improve care for veterans and their families."
The three-year training programme will build on this success and will be rolled out from October 2025 across England.