Veteran Friendly Practice

What being accredited means

Kiltearn is an accredited Veteran Friendly GP Practice. The Royal College of General Practitioners runs the accreditation scheme in partnership with NHS England, and it shows that we can deliver the best possible care for patients who have served in the British Armed Forces.

As an accredited practice we:

• Have a named clinical lead for veteran health within the team.
• Ask new patients "Have you served?" at registration so we can identify veterans early.
• Help veteran patients access the dedicated NHS health services that are designed for them, including Op COURAGE (mental health) and Op RESTORE (physical health).
• Take part in specialist training to meet the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant.

Why it matters that we know

The Armed Forces Covenant gives veterans the right to priority NHS care for any condition that is wholly or partly caused by their service, subject to clinical need. We cannot apply that priority if we do not know you served.

Letting us know also unlocks access to specialist services that are not available through the standard NHS referral routes. These services understand military health, including the specific demands of operational tours, and they often have shorter waits than mainstream equivalents.

Telling us is voluntary, and the information stays confidential within the clinical team. You can change your mind at any time and ask us to remove the code from your record.