VETERANS were among a full house attending Wellington Medical Centre’s patient participation group (PPG) to hear from speakers Teri Underwood, who is NHS Somerset Armed Forces project manager, and former Royal Marine Jezz Scarratt.

The GP practice is accredited as ‘veteran friendly’, which helps to better equip doctors with the knowledge to serve the local veteran community and their families.

Research showed it could be challenging for GPs to identify and manage veterans and their families, which might then prevent them identifying health issues and signposting them to the support they needed.

It also identified a need for more awareness of support services both within the NHS and externally.

In response, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Government created the ‘veteran friendly’ accreditation, which is a voluntary initiative, for practices which the Care Quality Commission rates as ‘good’ or higher.

Accreditation lasts for three years and requires GP practices to check if patients had served in the Armed Forces and include the information in the surgery’s IT systems, designate a surgery clinical lead for veterans to undertake dedicated training and keep up-to-date with issues to maintain the commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant, and provide advice to colleagues.

PPG chairman Veronica Tatnall said: “Last year, Wellington Medical Centre signed up to being veteran friendly, where veterans can register so when they need treatment they are signposted to the correct support.

“With two military bases in Somerset, there are over 500 registered veterans at Wellington Medical Centre.

“Many questions from the veterans attending were answered and with the input from Jezz it was a very interesting and informative discussion.”

Those attending also heard that following a query at the last meeting, it had been confirmed that if somebody did not use the NHS app for two years, it would be removed.

The first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) clinic had been held in late January and ran smoothly with PPG members stewarding.

Patients aged 75 years or older on or before September 1, 2024, are eligible for the vaccination, along with expectant mums who are 28 weeks or more pregnant.

Ongoing vaccinations are continuing to take place during surgery hours.

The PPG heard that after a recent ‘threat to life’ incident in the surgery, when the police had to be called, the person involved had been removed from the register of patients.

Mrs Tatnall said: “To help alleviate patient and staff fear, there are panic buttons installed, cameras on reception area. and replacement of screens will take place in the near future.”

She said it was also hoped an independent pharmacy would open in the former Boots premises on the surgery site after an application for a licence was submitted to NHS Somerset.

The process had started and a number of letters and emails in support of the proposed pharmacy had been sent to NHS Somerset.

Mrs Tatnall thanked all those who had taken the time to express their backing for the proposal.