Injured veterans will soon be able to access better specialised medical treatment in the UK thanks to a Veterans Trauma Network (VTN). The VTN was given the go ahead on the week of November 14th, which will lead to improved treatment for discharged military personnel.

The network will provide access for injured veterans to ten NHS Veteran Trauma Centres, which will allow them to benefit from targeted clinical plans created by NHS and military experts in trauma. This will help those who have struggled with treatment options within the existing system.

Veterans often suffer from a range of complicated issues that require ongoing treatment and a number of operations. They also often need continuing expert care, but this can be a problem, with many individuals reporting delays in procedure and appointments.

This new network will help hundreds of veterans who are going through continued treatment for injuries sustained during service, ensuring they get the best options.

Army reservist Shehan Hettiaratchy, an NHS consultant at St Mary's Hospital, London, said: “We do have the right experts within the NHS but the challenge has been getting the veteran from where they are sitting with their GP to those right experts,” said Mr Hettiaratchy, who is the VTN’s clinical lead.

“The idea is to make that connection and make it as simple as possible.”

He continued to say that it is important to connect injured veterans with those who can give them the appropriate level of care and immediate answers, rather than having them "bouncing" around the healthcare system. The new network will be better for individuals and the NHS as a whole.

Veterans can get access to the centres through their GPs, which will ensure they get the right care for their injuries. The VTN doesn't give veterans priority treatment, instead, it is based on clinical needs for individuals and won't mean extra costs for the NHS. 

“Many veterans experience a disconnect with their treatment once they are discharged from military service,” said Brian Chenier, Prosthetics Support Officer, for Blesma, the limbless veterans charity, which has been involved in campaigning for the VTN.

“The civilian pathway is not used to dealing with them and therefore they can suffer delays, appointments with the wrong experts and misunderstandings over the medical needs that come from complex injuries that require multiple operations and this can lead to sub-standard treatment, pain and suffering.

“Some of them have received blast injuries which need specialist care that cannot always be provided by GPs so it is important to get them to the right specialist quickly."