Sharing information of local veteran support service with GP Practices in Sunderland
Using the positive feedback we received from a veteran who had accessed the support service Op-Courage we have been able to raise awareness and promotion of the service with local GP surgeries. This will enable them to have the information they require to signpost their patients for the support they need.
When engaging with members of the public we met a veteran who shared his positive experience of using Op-Courage. This Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service provides specialist care and support for those due to leave the armed forces, reservists and those who’ve already left. Developed by veterans, for veterans, Op-Courage is available across England.
The gentleman we met shared his concerns that Op-Courage isn’t widely known about, and he stated that GPs in our city may not know about this service and therefore others in a similar situation to himself were not getting the support they need.
Through local research which involved contacting a local Practice Manager and the Armed Forces Healthcare Lead for South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, we found out that they shared the same concerns.
What difference did this make?
We were able to share the information about the availability of the Op-Courage service with the Associate Director, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) who has shared it with the ICB Lead for Veterans’ Health to ask for promotion throughout the 38 GP practices across the city, so they could refer their patients for support where relevant. She also saw the value of sharing the information with the GP Alliance Social Prescribing Team so they can signpost their patients to the service. As a result, an article has been added into a weekly bulletin which is shared with primary care staff and services.
Professionals now have the information they need, so that people have more information about the services available to them - the power of public feedback strikes again!
For more information about Op-Courage, who can access the service and how to contact them, follow this link:
