Health and Social Care
NHS Veterans' Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS)
The NHS Veterans' Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) is a dedicated local-community-based service for veterans and those transitioning out of the Armed Forces with a discharge date. The service provides a range of treatment, from recognising the early signs of mental health problems and providing access to early support, to therapeutic treatment for complex mental health difficulties and psychological trauma. Call 0300 323 0137 or email mevs.mhm@nhs.net or ask their GP or a military charity to refer them.
NHS Veterans' Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS)
This is an enhanced local-community-based service for ex-service personnel who have military-related complex mental health problems that haven't improved with earlier care and treatment. Access for this service is through TILS.
Families and carers can find it hard to cope when their loved ones aren't well, so, where appropriate, help may be provided for them, too.
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight in the service of our country. They assist people to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
- Loss of limb or loss of use of a limb
- Loss of an eye or sight in both eyes
- Loss of hearing
- IN Service and throughout the rest of their lives
Blesma Support Officer (Midlands): Sam Wileman
020 8548 7095 or 07825 536363
bsomid@blesma.org
- Contact Sam and arrange a visit
- Client joins Blesma (one-off £5 lifetime membership)
- Sam visit’s and does a comprehensive assessment
- Confirmation of Service with MOD
- Access to a range of Blesma services
Blesma Services
- Prosthetics support for panels and tribunals
- Financial check: Benefits, War Pension, AFCS, PIP
- Range of national and regional activities for members and dependents (physical activity, cultural events, holidays)
- Grants:
- Mobility aids and adaptations
- £200 gardening grant pa
- £700 decoration grant
Blind Veterans UK
Blind Veterans UK support anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, or who has done National Service, and who is now living with significant sight loss. They give veterans much-needed support to adjust to sight loss, overcome the challenges of blindness and enjoy daily life.
The individual does NOT need to have been blinded or suffered degenerating sight loss during Service, this can have happened any time after Service.
Tel: 0800 389 7979
- Induction week: Veterans who have shared similar experiences can meet and explore ways to overcome the challenges of sight loss (three locations across the UK)
- Rehab and training
- Support for independent living
- Sports, social activities, events
- Residential and Nursing Care
Veterans Physical Disabilities
Veterans: NHS services for those with physical injuries
Veterans Trauma Network
The Veterans Trauma Network provides care and treatment to those who have been injured during their time in the armed forces.
The referral process is simple. They need to have told their NHS GP they served in the Armed Forces and the GP can refer by emailing england.veteranstraumanetwork@nhs.net. They can also contact Blesma or call 020 8548 7080.
Prosthetics
Nine Disablement Service Centres (DSCs) across England have been selected to provide enhanced services to veterans who have lost a limb as a result of their service in the armed forces. The nearest is Birmingham – West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust. Tel: 0121 466 3005.
Veterans Prosthetic Panel (VPP)
The VPP was established in 2012 so veterans could apply for funding for high-quality prosthetic limbs, regardless of which DSC they attend. This application is then assessed by a specialised panel.
To find out more about NHS prosthetic services for veterans, they can speak to their GP. They can also contact Blesma at bsoprosthetics@blesma.org or call 020 8548 7080.
The Royal British Legion Admiral Nurses
The Legion works with Dementia UK to provide Admiral Nurses - a service that supports the carers of RBL beneficiaries who have dementia. The focus of the service is to maintain independence and improve the quality of life for carers and families and to provide the practical advice they need.
The Royal British Legion Veterans Hearing Fund
The Veterans Hearing Fund provides support to veterans who suffered hearing loss during service but their needs cannot be helped through statutory services such as the NHS. The programme may be able to fund hearing aids, peripherals or therapies such as lip reading and tinnitus management therapies.
The Royal British Legion: Veterans Mobility Fund
The Ministry of Defence have measures in place to ensure that veterans who have suffered a serious physical injury as a result of service have the right specialist wheelchair or orthotic equipment complete with a five-year warranty when they are discharged. The Veterans Mobility Fund supports those who fall outside this provision or whose warranty has expired.
The Royal British Legion: Handy Van Service
The Royal British Legion handy vans service helps ex-Service people and their families with small household repairs and minor adaptations for free. This includes fitting fire and security features, installing care phones and storage of legion provided mobility equipment.