As announced on Remembrance Sunday through a press release from the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme has now been formally launched. The initiative aims to equip NHS staff across England with the skills and understanding needed to deliver compassionate, personalised care for the Armed Forces community — including serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families — while recognising their distinct experiences and evolving healthcare needs.
NHS England remains committed to embedding the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant throughout its complex system and to becoming as ‘Armed Forces health aware’ as possible. Central to this commitment are the people who make up the NHS workforce — not only clinicians and healthcare professionals, but also those in leadership, administrative, and support roles — all of whom play a part in delivering inclusive and responsive care.
In May 2025, the government announced the creation of the programme, designed to deliver learning and awareness at all levels of the NHS in England. Developed over three years in collaboration with key stakeholders, the programme is started with all hospital care trusts on 10 November Remembrance Week 2025. From 2026, primary, community, and Integrated Care Board teams will be included, with further sector partners joining from 2027. Online support materials and resources will also be available from mid-2026.
The programme is being delivered by a small, regionally focused team in partnership with the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) leadership. Sessions can be delivered face-to-face or via webinars, with acute and secondary care organisations already being booked.
Earlier this year, the VCHA reached a milestone achievement with all NHS trusts in England successfully accredited as Veteran Aware.
Prof Tim Briggs CBE (rightmost) standing next to Guy Benson, VCHA National Team Lead, with the programme Regional Trainers
Prof Tim Briggs CBE, Chair and National Lead of the VCHA, said:
“The Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme represents a vital step in ensuring that everyone in the NHS, from clinicians to leaders and support staff, understands the unique challenges faced by the Armed Forces community. We at the VCHA, with our regional trainers from across England, are proud to support the delivery of the programme, helping staff provide compassionate, personalised care and uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.”
A powerful introduction video, delivered by one of the VCHA trainers, Gregg Stevenson MBE — a veteran who has experienced the NHS as both a patient and staff member — is available to illustrate the importance of this training. The video shares real experiences and demonstrates why the programme is critical to supporting ‘due regard’ for the Armed Forces community.
There’s more information about the NHS Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme throughout this website or email the team at rnoh.vcha.ntep@nhs.net.
