How our healthcare system will help veterans and their families - Wes Streeting

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.

As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the government has announced a £1.8 million investment in a National Training and Education Plan to transform how the NHS cares for veterans, serving personnel and their families.

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. Regional trainers will work directly with our local NHS Trusts, GP practices and mental health services to embed this expertise where it's needed most.

Yorkshire's proud military history means you have one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country. 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.

This October, we'll begin implementing the programme, with training sessions for healthcare professionals across Yorkshire to develop the skills and knowledge they need to provide truly personalised care for our military community.

As this government's Health and Social Care Secretary, I'm determined that, through our Plan for Change, those who've served our country never face disadvantage when accessing healthcare.

This commitment comes alongside our recent investment in healthcare in the region, with crucial hospital rebuilds such as Airedale General getting well underway, top doctors sent to hospital trusts across Yorkshire to cut waiting lists, and a cash boost of £102 million for GP surgeries which could increase the number of appointments in Yorkshire and the Humber by almost 800,000.

The Armed Forces Covenant is clear: those who serve or have served in our Armed Forces, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens. This new programme will help us deliver on that promise right here in Yorkshire.

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.

Together, we'll build a healthcare system that truly honours and supports those who've given so much for our country.

Wes Streeting is the Health and Social Care Secretary.