UK Armed Forces Veterans: NHS Priority Treatment

A veteran is someone who has served in the armed forces for at least 1 day. There are around 2.4 million veterans in Great Britain.

When servicemen and women leave the armed forces, their healthcare is the responsibility of the NHS.

It’s very important for continuing healthcare that you register with an NHS GP and remember to tell them that you have served. This will help your GP to better understand any service-related health conditions that you may have and ensure that you are referred, where appropriate, to dedicated services for ex-forces.

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.

Find out more about the range of dedicated health services for ex-forces with this leaflet.

Or see the Veterans: priority NHS treatment website

Making Sure your medical Records are tagged correctly

To ensure your medical records please ensure you have informed us if you are a veteran.  (Please note that you may be asked for proof such as your military service number)

The Veterans Transition, intervention and Liaison Service (TILS)

The Veterans Transition, intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) is an NHS service that has been specially tailored to support and treat:

  • ex-armed forces veterans
  • reservists who are not currently mobilised
  • service personnel who are approaching discharge who may have mental health, social and welfare issues.

As well as being referred to this service by your GP, Veterans can Self-Refer.

TILS will meet with the veteran for an assessment of the difficulties they may be experiencing and discuss their mental health difficulties and other problems e.g. money, employment, housing.

In partnership, we then make recommendations for the support or treatment that can help get life back on track. This may involve help from a local NHS service, including the Veterans Complex Treatment Service (CTS) or from other organisations such as veterans’ charities.  Our service is open to all ex-service members of the British Armed Forces (and reservists who are not currently mobilised) registered with Oxfordshire practices.

To make a self-referral, telephone: 0300 365 0300 or email bks-tr.referralhub@nhs.net

or if you would like more information or advice before making a referral please email sc.veterans@nhs.net or telephone:  0118 929 6426