Powys Teaching Health Board is committed to ensuring that military veterans and their families across Powys face no disadvantage when accessing our services, either as patients or colleagues. The health board signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016 and continues to champion veterans and the armed forces communities’ rights to enjoy equitable access to their health care needs.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the UK nation ensuring that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. It places a legal duty on certain public bodies to have due regard to the Covenant principles when carrying out certain functions in healthcare, education, and housing. To understand more about the covenant, please visit Armed Forces Covenant.
As a health board, and as required by the Armed Forces Covenant, we will make treatment decisions based on clinical need when the injury is service related, and an Armed Forces background will be consciously considered to ensure patients are not disadvantaged.
For us to deliver the best care to those who have a military background we need to know if you are a part of the Armed Forces Community (Regular, Reservist, Veteran, Spouse, or child of a serving member).
Please inform a member of staff when you are attending a hospital appointment so we can ensure this information is captured and enable us to ensure you are on the correct pathway.
HM armed forces veteran card - An HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a way to prove that you served in the UK armed forces. The card can make it quicker and easier to apply for support as a veteran.
It is very important for continuing healthcare that you register with an NHS GP and remember to tell them that you have previously served in the Armed Forces. If you’ve recently left the armed forces, it is important to give your GP the paperwork that your military medical centre gave you, including any medical records. This will help to ensure your military health record transfers to your NHS health record. It will also give your GP information on your health and ensure that any ongoing treatment is continued.
Being flagged as a veteran in your NHS medical notes will help to ensure that you are able to access dedicated services for those who have served in the UK armed forces. These include services for mental, health and physical health conditions.
In Wales, veterans have access to NHS Veterans Wales. This is a specialised priority service for individuals who have served in the Armed Forces, who are experiencing mental health difficulties related specifically to their military service. Veterans can refer themselves to the service or be referred by the GP or other professionals and organisations that work with veterans.
PTHB welcomes applications from serving reservists, recognising and valuing the additional expertise and transferable skills that they develop through their armed forces training and military career, such as teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, commitment, determination and self-confidence.
PTHB has a reservist policy to support your military service and a variety of career opportunities, to find out what these are please look at our current vacancies.
PTHB welcomes applications from service leavers. Service leavers, through their military career and training, have experience of working in a variety of different careers within the services, including trainers, administrators, IT managers, nurses, and operation/facilities/project managers in demanding and complex situations.
Again, PTHB has a variety of career opportunities and a guaranteed interview scheme, to find out what these are please look at our current vacancies or our veteran recruitment page.
Veteran Recruitment - Powys Teaching Health Board (nhs.wales)