His Majesty King Charles III visited Chatfield Health Care (CHC) in Wandsworth today (November 5) and spoke with veterans about the tailored support they receive at the medical centre.
He met former members of the armed forces to hear about their experiences and the challenges they face after leaving the military.
Over a cup of tea, His Majesty said: “The difficulty, I suspect, is that when you leave the forces, you are leaving that whole family of your unit and suddenly left wondering what to do.
“This must be a great help.”
His Majesty learned about the centre’s veteran-friendly programme, which provides tailored healthcare and support for veterans.
The programme, accredited by the Royal College of GPs and NHS England, offers a range of healthcare and rehabilitation services tailored for former servicemen and women.
Chatfield is one of 4,450 veteran-friendly practices across England.
The centre joined the programme in 2021 and currently supports 49 veterans, though there could be up to 120 in the area who might benefit, according to GP Dr Shane Barker, a veteran and key figure in the programme.
Dr Barker said: “We don’t know who they are, and they are self-sufficient and have more trauma in their background, both physical and mental.
“Those things are issues we are trying to overcome so we can identify and help them.”
“Veterans generally have often been through things that most men and women do not get to see.
“There is an awful lot of baggage that they carry around.
“They are also trained to be self-sufficient, resourceful and self-sustaining.
“They are not the first to call for help.
“It is important because they have served our country in different ways.
“They don’t make the decisions that lead them to be in Iraq, Sierra Leone or Kosovo or any whichever conflict, but they are put there and have to cope with the consequences.
“It would be a great thing if we could recognise that contribution to what is our way of life.”
Chatfield can refer veterans to NHS programmes such as Op Courage, which supports mental health, and Op Restore, which helps with physical injuries from military service.
