HEALTH bosses have formally recognised the role that members of the armed forces and their families play.

The NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging to ensure it is a forces-friendly employer and will give consideration to the armed forces, their families, and veterans in the services it commissions.

It acts as a link between the Ministry of Defence and the NHS.

Launched in 2013, the Armed Forces Covenant is part of the government’s commitment to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the defence of the country and their dependants are not discriminated against or disadvantaged through employment opportunities or the services they get from both the public and private sector.

The formal agreement was signed at Bovington

Chief Officer of NHS Dorset CCG Tim Goodson said: “By signing the Armed Forces Covenant we are joining over 1,500 other organisations in giving our commitment to those who currently serve or have served in the armed forces. We have a number of members of staff who have served in the armed forces or are currently members of the volunteer reserve and having spoken to them I fully appreciate how important it is for them and their families to know they can rely on local health services wherever they may be.”

Lt Colonel Tom Giffard (Household Cavalry Regiment) – Chief of Staff – Headquarters Armour Centre said: “The CCG coming on side with the Covenant is, for us, really exciting. We will now have very strong relationships within local communities with NHS health partners. It means veterans can settle in and have their needs, and those of their families, looked after. More importantly, it ensures that if you’re posted into the area from outside of Dorset, any on-going treatments will continue.”

Major Roy Dove, Senior Nursing Officer for Bovington Garrison said: “The Covenant is a fantastic opportunity, linking the MOD and the NHS trusts in Dorset, and providing a really nice pathway for those once they’ve left the service to have access to healthcare and further support and advice as they need it.”

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