Stratton Community Hospital Celebrates New Veteran Aware Status

Stratton Community Hospital has been officially marked as Veteran Aware after a plaque was unveiled on Thursday, recognising its commitment to supporting people from the Armed Forces community.

Why Veteran Aware Status Matters

In June the Trust was re-accredited as Veteran Aware by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance. The status means patients who have served, or are part of the wider Armed Forces community, can expect improved access to healthcare and support.

Veteran Aware status supports NHS and independent healthcare providers in upholding the Armed Forces Covenant, which became law under the Armed Forces Act 2021. The covenant is described as the nation’s promise that members of the Armed Forces community will be supported when they need it, whether through medical care, employment, education or housing.

📷Pictured, above, from left: Sarah Washer (matron), Adrian Flynn (chief medical officer), Steve Hayes (veteran) and Sharon Wilton (veteran and progress co-ordinator at Stratton).

Plaque Unveiled at Stratton

On Thursday a plaque marking the status was unveiled at Stratton Community Hospital by veteran Steve Hayes. Chief medical officer Adrian then spoke about the importance of the accreditation.

He says:

“It is about getting people (from the Trust) trained and aware so that we can achieve veterans’ awareness as a hospital. This means that when people come in for care of any kind, they’ll be asked ‘have you served?’

“There’s an opportunity for people to get care and support they may not have known that they were entitled to.

“It’s important that that we, as the NHS and Trust, live up to veteran awareness status. We have to keep spreading this awareness across all our community hospitals. Make it something that we do as our day-to-day business.”

Veterans at the Heart of the Work

Also attending were veterans Pete Leatherbarrow and Sharon Wilton. Pete, who served his country, now works as a minor injuries practitioner at Stratton. Sharon, who served in Basra, is a progress co-ordinator at Stratton and Launceston Community Hospital.

More Cornish Hospitals Set to Join the List

Stratton joins Helston Community Hospital and Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, which already hold Veteran Aware status. Newquay Community Hospital and Falmouth Community Hospital are expected to receive their accreditation in the coming months.