We are proud to announce that we have formalised our support for the Armed Forces and Veterans community by becoming a signatory to three key national initiatives, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to those who serve, have served and their families.
Announced today, we have:
- Signed the Armed Forces Covenant
- Been awarded bronze in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
- Been working towards the NHS Veteran Aware accreditation within our Diabetic Eye Screening service, delivered in partnership with the NHS
These commitments represent an important step forward in strengthening our approach to supporting members of the Armed Forces community, both as colleagues and patients.
The Armed Forces Covenant reflects a promise to ensure that those who serve or have served are treated with fairness and respect in society, including in areas such as employment and healthcare. Through participation in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, we will further develop our practices as an inclusive employer, recognising the value that veterans, reservists and military families bring to the workforce.
In addition, the NHS Veteran Aware accreditation acknowledges our commitment within the Diabetic Eye Screening service to understanding and meeting the specific needs of veterans, ensuring they receive appropriate and equitable care.
These three pledges demonstrate our intention to take meaningful and measurable action.
We recognise the contribution that Service personnel, reservists, veterans, the cadet movement and military families make to our organisation, our community and to the country. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant by:
Recruitment and Progression – Welcoming applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military family members, recognising transferable military skills, and working with the Career Transition Partnership to support successful transitions into civilian roles.
Flexible Working – Offering a wide range of flexible, hybrid and remote working opportunities to support service spouses and partners.
Support for Reservists – Supporting UK Reservists in the workforce through paid time off for annual training and unpaid leave for mobilisation or deployment, ensuring duties are accommodated wherever possible.
Health and Wellbeing – Promoting colleague health and wellbeing through dedicated awareness activities and internal initiatives.
Accessible Healthcare Services – Aiming to provide flexible and accessible healthcare services, including consideration of appointment times and locations, to ensure Armed Forces personnel and their families are not disadvantaged.
Awareness and Training – Providing Armed Forces Covenant training and resources to build understanding and enable informed, appropriate support across the organisation.
Recognition and Remembrance – Supporting and recognising national events such as Remembrance Day and Armed Forces Day, honouring the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community.
Volunteering and Community Support – Enabling colleagues to support Armed Forces charities and initiatives through volunteering opportunities and wider social value programmes.
We are committed to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community experience no disadvantage in accessing employment opportunities, support or healthcare services, while also building greater awareness and accountability across its teams.
This marks the beginning of an ongoing journey. We will continue to develop our approach, track progress against our commitments, and bring these principles to life across the organisation and the patient services we deliver nationwide.
For more information about these initiatives, please visit:
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