NHS Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme
The NHS Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme is being delivered across England, with a dedicated Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) trainer for each region. Our regional trainers play a vital role by working both within and beyond the NHS to improve care for the Armed Forces community (serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families).
This programme will support the NHS wide system to demonstrate that the NHS and their partners receive the appropriate training and education required to ensure they can develop a skilled, educated, and inclusive NHS primary, community and secondary care workforce, to meet the evolving needs of the Armed Forces community within the NHS in England.
The VCHA regional trainers and educators will work with and across the NHS in England so they are better able to respond and manage care for and with the Armed Forces community, assisting in the development of delivery of local Population Health.
To find out more information, email rnoh.vcha.ntep@nhs.net
NHS Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme launch video
This short launch video outlines the new NHS Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme designed to support staff across the NHS in delivering Armed Forces community aware care.
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NHS England Trusts Only
Drive down health inequalities, unwarranted variation and disadvantage
Through training and education we will drive down health inequalities, unwarranted variation and disadvantage in healthcare for our Armed Forces community (serving, reserves, veterans and families).
Improve health and well-being
The national programme will increase awareness of the unique characteristics of the Armed Forces community thereby improving their health and well-being.
Supporting NHS systems
We aim to help and support NHS systems to deliver their statutory responsibilities as part of the Armed Forces Covenant.
Frequently asked questions
Click on the questions below to reveal the answers…
There are similarities within the training to ensure there is a standardised message across the workforce. It isn’t expected that staff will attended both modules. Module 2 is designed for the senior leaders and decision makers and therefore has additional focus on the NHS 10 year plan – Fit for the Future and the outcomes for the workforce. Module 3 is designed to provide take aways for the workforce through practical guidance.
The AF Covenant only applies to those who are serving or who have served in the UK Armed Forces, and their respective families. This does not include foreign forces or support staff. There are some circumstances where current and former members of the British Overseas Territory Forces are covered – this is set out in more detail in sections 1J2 and 1J3 of the AF Covenant Statutory Guidance >
The training is currently designed for staff with NHS Trusts. Bespoke modules tailored for PCNs and ICBs will be launching in Spring 2026, and we will share further details closer to that time.
Clinicians should maintain patient confidentiality, putting the patient first – up to a point. They do have a duty to disclose medical issues when there is, for example, a risk to society. This is covered in GMC ‘Good Medical Practice’ and the principles remain for military patients.
There are currently no plans to enable members of the AF community to self identify in the NHS App. This has been flagged with the Transformation Directorate.
There are no specific SNOMED CT codes for foreign & commonwealth personnel. Providers should use the existing codes for family members and veterans. Trusts may wish to capture nationality separately as part of routine Equality monitoring and should use existing systems for this
The majority of mental healthcare is provided by Defence Medical Services and Department of Community Mental Health (DCMHs). www.gov.uk/guidance/mental-health-support-for-the-uk-armed-forces
We are currently working with the Summary of Care Index (SOCI) team (SOCI is replacing what we previously knew as ‘national spine’). When completed the AF SNOMED code that Trusts applied will be the ‘flag’ on patient records centrally to identify that these are armed forces community patients.
Prior to that the code will identify patients data in the routine submissions which Trusts make monthly via Community Data Set and Hospital Episode Statistic submissions to the centre.
Mental health services for service personnel are provided by the MOD and there is a range of services available to Service personnel, through Defence Healthcare services. In addition, the MOD collaborates with GambleAware on awareness raising. Service personnel are owed the same duty of confidentiality as any patient and are subject to the same rules around confidentiality in the NHS Code of Practice on.
The Armed Forces Covenant Statutory Guidance; page 32 provides information about priority treatment. This relates to veterans for a service-related condition and is always subject to clinical prioritisation, with the decision resting with the treating clinician.
Yes, they are legally classed as Veterans. Veterans are defined as anyone who has served for at least one day in His Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations.
Yes, the Armed Forces Covenant does apply to those over the age of 16 who join / leave the regular forces and to those who do not complete their training (for whatever reason). Statutory Guidance provides the detail on this: click here >
Service personnel are owed the same duty of confidentiality as any patient and are subject to the same rules around confidentiality in the NHS Code of Practice on Confidentiality. The single-Service King’s Regulations set behavioural and administrative expectations across the three services, which require personnel to: maintain personal fitness for duty, report circumstances affecting their ability to carry out duties, and not knowingly present themselves as fit for duty when they are not. Failure to disclose a health condition that impacts operational capability is likely to be considered a breach of Service regulations – thus we would expect service personnel to report issues affecting their health accordingly.
The NTEP programme has only been funded to support the training and education of NHS Primary care, secondary care, ICBs and DHSC settings. However, there may be an opportunity in the future, subject to funding, to widen scope.
The AF covenant statutory guidance does include bereaved family members within the definition of the Armed Forces community (section 1J) – this includes the family members of both currently serving and former members of the Armed Forces. It would be for individual organisations to consider whether the circumstances would warrant special provision or not. (See section 1L of the Statutory Guidance on Special Provision)
Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme team
Ele Wilson
Ele is a retired British Army officer (Royal Military Police) with a career spanning over two decades. She deployed operationally to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and Iraq, and served non-operationally in Cyprus, Germany and the UK, gaining extensive experience in complex environments.
As Commanding Officer of a Royal Military Police Regiment, she led over 450 personnel across multiple locations, overseeing military police operations, investigations, and jurisdictional enforcement. She provided strategic advice to senior officers and enhanced professional development within the regiment.
Previously, she served as a Senior Staff Officer in Army Headquarters, driving capability development within the Military Police. She was also a Senior Instructor at the Land Warfare School, training junior officers in tactical awareness and military law.
Her operational roles included Deputy Commander of the Special Investigation Branch, leading serious incident investigations, and Policy Advisor with NATO Training Mission in Iraq, supporting the Iraqi Army Officer Academy. She was also Directing Staff at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, training future British Army leaders.
Since leaving the military, Ele set up her own company delivering workplace investigations and has led workplace investigations as Head of Investigation at CMP, managing a large team of investigators and ensuring the highest standards of fairness and integrity. She oversaw complex cases, quality assurance, and professional development programmes, maintaining CMP’s reputation for excellence in investigative services.
Ele holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science and joined the VCHA as the Regional Trainer for the South West of England in 2025. She resides in Wiltshire with her husband and two children.
Jane Burt
Jane has an academic background in mental health having completed a BA Honours in Psychosocial Studies and a Post Graduate Diploma in Mental Health.
For over 20 years, she has worked extensively in the third sector and for 7 years she was employed in the operational team of the award winning NHS Armed Forces Network in Sussex and Kent & Medway, where she played a key role in the development and delivery of Armed Forces specific training courses for professionals, including the ‘Service Champions’ and ‘SERVES’ Suicide Prevention training. Jane was also responsible for the day-to-day case management of the local ‘Op COMMUNITY’ (single point of access service), supporting veterans, serving personnel and their families and carers to access health and wellbeing, education, and housing services.
Jane has a long-held belief that collaborative working practice across sectors is vital in order to provide holistic and person-centred support for our Armed Forces Community. As the daughter of an ex-service woman, she is enthusiastic in promoting how ‘asking the question’ is also key to identifying all members within this community and brings a wealth of benefits for patients and clients but also for the professionals and services that support them too.
Gemma Saunders
Gemma has almost 20 years of experience of working in the healthcare sector. She has worked in the NHS, local authority, Defence and the private sector, as an Occupational Therapist and then as a Psychotherapist.
Gemma is a huge ally and advocate for the Armed Forces community, having worked in this space for the last eight years. In her last NHS post, Gemma chaired a staff network dedicated to supporting armed forces community staff. She led on the accreditation for Veteran Aware, Defence ERS and other forces family initiatives. This work culminated in several nominations for esteemed awards, two of which Gemma and her Trust won. However, Gemma feels most proud of the impact her work has had on patients and staff. For her: “It’s a privilege to be able to help someone who thinks that there is little hope. I still feel that huge sense of joy working with patients now, as I did 20 years ago, when they tell me what’s changed in their life for the better”.
Gemma is a strong supporter of allyship and creating a whole workforce approach to improve healthcare for our Armed Forces community. She has consulted with several organisations to support them with their offer for the forces families, mentoring staff on the challenges that the community faces.
Alongside her full time role, Gemma co-founded a community interest company, Sisters In Service. This is a peer support group for women veterans working in healthcare.
Gemma is based in the Midlands.
Jim Maskell
Jim was commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1995. Whilst serving Jim was injured and was medically discharged in 2000. On leaving the military Jim embarked on a successful career coaching Rugby. He helped develop and deliver a number of large national programmes with National Governing Bodies and significant stakeholders. Jim was incredibly lucky to have worked across the world, as a coach, learning a wide variety of methods in coaching and training.
In 2016, Jim joined the London Ambulance Service (LAS) as an Emergency Ambulance Crew. During his time in the LAS he was responsible for ensuring that they signed the Armed Forces Covenant, became Veteran Aware and that they achieved Silver in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). Following this he moved into the Public Education Department and helped deliver training and projects across London. He also joined the London Armed Forces Network which he continues to Co-Chair.
In 2023, Jim left the LAS and joined The Poppy Factory as their Partnerships and Development Manager. A significant part of this role was leading on the Thrive Together Programme in London. This experience led him to apply for the role of Regional Trainer London which is the perfect blend of Jim’s varied and extensive experience.
John Linegar
John is a retired regular Army Officer, serving 30 years in the Army Air Corps as both a soldier and officer. On leaving regular service John transferred to the Army Reserves and is currently a National Reservist in the Joint Aviation Command.
During his military career he has deployed operationally to Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
On leaving the regular army he joined the Cabinet Office as a Senior Policy Adviser for the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. He joined the NHS in 2025 and is the VCHA Trainer for the North East of England.
John lives in North Yorkshire with his family and enjoys swimming, cycling and rugby.
Sarah Kirkby
Sarah qualified from the University of Leeds with a BSc in Adult Nursing in 2014 and has enjoyed a varied career in patient facing roles, research, recovery education and project management. Sarah is passionate about education and believes that through sharing information and raising awareness, people, both professionals and service users, are provided with an opportunity to understand one another and appreciate each other’s unique experiences.
Whilst predominantly working within the NHS, Sarah also worked as a Clinical Facilitator with the Ministry of Defence, supporting serving personnel, who were assigned to the Personnel Recovery Unit North, in their recovery journey. In 2021, Sarah joined the Armed Forces Charity, Help for Heroes, as the Veterans Community Nurse for the East, assisting veterans with their varied and often complex healthcare challenges.
Most recently, Sarah worked as the charity’s Healthcare Partnerships Lead, developing relationships with the NHS and other healthcare providers, to provide joined up services for the veteran community. She also managed the Veterans Moving Forwards project, which delivered the charity’s specialist recovery education to veterans in their own community, through partnerships with the NHS and third-sector organisations.
As a member of the Armed Forces Community herself, Sarah is committed to ensuring that the whole of community, and the individual challenges faced by these groups, are represented equally, particularly in terms of the known health inequalities that exist.
Patricia Hamill-Morgan
Patricia is a retired Army Warrant Officer with the Royal Military Police, having served for 24+ years. During her military career, she deployed to Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan, gaining a wealth of operational experience. Her dedication and outstanding service were recognised in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours, where she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for her significant contribution to the British Army.
After leaving the military in 2017, Patricia continued her commitment to public service within the Civil Service. She took on a range of leadership roles, including Talent Coach for the HR Fast Stream in the Cabinet Office, Assistant Director with Border Force at Manchester Airport, and Business Change Partner at the Crown Commercial Service.
In early 2026, Patricia joined the NHS Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), where she now supports the National Armed Forces Training and Education Programme (NTEP) as Regional Trainer for the North West of England. She remains passionate about supporting the Armed Forces community.
