Each month, we will be showcasing best practice from across NHS trusts delivering the NHS Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme. From innovative engagement approaches to impactful training delivery, these examples highlight how organisations are embedding Armed Forces awareness into their workforce and improving care for the Armed Forces community.
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Across the South West of England, all 19 NHS trusts have now engaged with the NHS Armed Forces healthcare training and education programme. While some organisations have faced competing priorities, every trust has shown commitment to improving awareness and strengthening support for the Armed Forces community.
Early engagement was strongest in Dorset, where Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, and University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust embedded Module One directly into their induction training. Cornwall also demonstrated early leadership, with Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, along with neighbouring Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust taking proactive steps to roll out the modules.
I would like to thank Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, and University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust for their high‑level engagement and commitment to delivering modules across their organisations.
There is no single trust that others should emulate; the region is full of excellent work. However, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust deserves recognition for successfully spreading awareness to Ward Managers and Matrons, embedding the programme culturally across clinical areas. Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust also stands out for initiating meaningful conversations with Divisional Leads following face‑to‑face sessions and for bringing their Chief Executive Board together in person to support the programme
Across the trusts, there are ongoing conversations about how best to roll this programme out to the workforce, where it can have the greatest impact for our Armed Forces community, and where competing operational demands make delivery more challenging. Working across the South West of England is something I genuinely value, and I welcome every opportunity to engage with teams, whether online or face‑to‑face.
Armed Forces Week
Armed Forces Week provided an opportunity to visit many sites across the region, despite extreme heat. Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust hosted the opening day and set the tone for the week. Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust had just re‑signed the Armed Forces Covenant the day before my visit, demonstrating strong organisational commitment. Mid‑week temperatures were intense, but Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust still hosted valuable discussions, and I look forward to following up with them and NHS Bristol.
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust adapted their programme due to the heat, enabling excellent conversations and follow‑up training. At Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, meeting two Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) caseworkers was a highlight; their impact is significant, and it would be wonderful to see DMWS funded across all NHS trusts.
The week concluded with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust hosting sessions that moved online due to the heat but still achieved strong attendance and follow‑up actions. I was unable to reach Somerset NHS Foundation Trust during the week, but I look forward to catching up soon.
