ABSTRACT
Veterans are defined as anyone who has served at least for one day in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations. A practice with an average list size of 7,292 patients will look after approximately 350 veterans. About 18,000 people leave the services each year to return to civilian life. Of those, approximately 2,000 have been discharged on medical grounds.
Veterans can present with different health conditions and complexities for an array of reasons which need to be considered including the risk of ongoing health problems, cultural differences, transition from military to civilian life and the Military Covenant.
This chapter explores further:
Considerations of what makes a veteran different when exploring healthcare needs.
Common healthcare problems experienced by veterans.
Improving healthcare of veterans including accessible and relevant mental health programmes.
Useful resources and avenues for additional advice.
