East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has outlined how its involvement in the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) is shaping more inclusive care for the Armed Forces community across its services.
The trust, which holds NHS Veteran Aware accreditation, was recognised at the 2025 HSJ Awards with the Military and Civilian Health Partnership award for embedding veteran-inclusive care across acute and community settings. The award was selected from more than 1,250 national entries.
Trust leaders said the accreditation process had helped strengthen how staff identify and support veterans, serving personnel and their families both as patients and employees. A staff-led steering group of more than 25 volunteers helped design the programme, supported by an Armed Forces Champions network providing guidance across departments.
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According to the trust, staff confidence has increased since the programme launched in September 2023, with clinicians reporting greater awareness of how military service may affect health and wellbeing. Feedback suggests improved continuity of care for patients relocating between areas, alongside better signposting to NHS services and military charities.
The trust has also focused on workforce support, particularly for veterans and reservists, with managers offering greater flexibility and engagement around service commitments. The organisation achieved Gold status under the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme in 2025.
Leaders said partnerships with regional NHS networks, reservist units and military charities have strengthened referral pathways and helped ensure continuity of care for patients moving across regions.
The VCHA said the trust’s experience demonstrates how national frameworks can translate into operational change at local level, with an emphasis on training, digital identification of veteran status and closer collaboration across the healthcare system.
