Across the UK’s ambulance services, something powerful is happening behind the scenes. While crews respond to patients every day, teams across ambulance trusts are working together to strengthen support for the Armed Forces community, bringing a shared commitment to those who serve.
Veterans, reservists, military families, spouses and cadet volunteers form a significant part of the ambulance workforce, contributing valuable skills, experience and resilience. Now, that community is being brought together through the launch of the new National Armed Forces Community Network, helping trusts connect, collaborate and share best practice.
Across the country, local initiatives are already making a difference. Trusts are delivering tailored training, supporting reservists through flexible policies, embedding military paramedics into frontline services, and collaborating with serving military personnel on co-responder schemes. Alongside this, there is a growing focus on improving care for patients from the Armed Forces community, recognising their unique experiences and addressing challenges such as continuity of care, transition between services and health inequalities.
Most trusts engage with, and are accredited by, the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), demonstrating their commitment to improving healthcare for the Armed Forces community. Trusts also share a commitment to supporting the delivery of national training programmes to help increase consistency across services.
Many trusts have achieved Silver or Gold Awards through the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, recognising their commitment to advocating for and supporting the Armed Forces community and the wider defence family.
Other initiatives include partnerships with cadet forces, community engagement events, and sharing personal stories to raise awareness and understanding of Armed Forces life. Together, these efforts help ensure that both staff and patients feel seen, supported and understood.
These commitments extend far beyond Armed Forces and Remembrance weeks because, as one network member reflected, “the Armed Forces is 365 days a year.” From supporting colleagues during deployment to improving patient experience and access to care, ambulance services are demonstrating a year-round dedication.
The launch of the National Armed Forces Community Network marks an important step forward, providing a platform to amplify voices, strengthen collaboration, improve consistency across ambulance trusts, and influence national conversations about support for the Armed Forces community.
Together, these partnerships reflect a simple but powerful message: caring for those who have served, and those who continue to serve, is a shared responsibility. It is a commitment to both our people and our patients, and one that ambulance services are proud to deliver every day.
For more information, please contact Laura Farrow, Military Champion at SCAS, via laura.farrow@scas.nhs.uk.
