Over half of medical centres in Cornwall are now veteran friendly accredited
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer MP has made a visit to Penzance
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer MP has visited a GP practice in Cornwall to highlight the efforts of medical centres in Cornwall accredited as veteran friendly.
The MP visited staff from Atlantic Medical Group, who were the first to get an accreditation, and veterans from Penzance Veteran Breakfast Club.
The Veterans Minister said: "It's been my driving thing in politics is to try and professionalise veterans care in this country and make it so irrespective of where you live or who you know, you're entitled to world class veterans care in line with the countries many many promises over many years.
"Largely driven by individuals who have served but ultimately want to see professionalised healthcare in the civilian sector for veterans who resettle after service. That's all I want to see, it can be done and it can be done to an extremely high standard".
The scheme which launched in 2018, is encouraging practices to keep a record of those who are veterans to offer them any mental and physical support they might need.
In Cornwall, over 50% of practices are now accredited out of around one quarter of practices nationally. Recently, Rosmellyn surgery, which MP Johnny Mercer visited on the site, has been given the same status.
Dr Matthew Boulter, GP at Atlantic Medical Group in Penzance, said: “The minister visited today to really highlight and showcase and promote the Royal College of General Practitioners veterans friendly award scheme.
“The idea is practices deliberately look at military veterans who are registered on their patient list to see can they be helped in any particular way should they come across a time in their life when they have certain needs. It’s about awareness of practices on who’s a veteran”.
According to the Royal College of General Practitioners there are 2.4 million veterans in the UK and each GP is responsible for around 50 people who have previously served in the British Armed Forces.
Veterans Ian Neal and Myghal Larter said: "It's all about dealing with the transition really from military life into civilian life. What it offers is that social environment which is safe.
"Feeling very humbled to be invited representing Penzance Veterans Breakfast Club.
"He's been there and done it and shared the same experience that we all have. We can relate to Johnny and there's that mutual respect. It's certainly not just one way, we receive as much respect from Johnny as we pass backwards".