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Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has been recognised with an Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award for their ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The award, from the Ministry of Defence, recognises the support organisations give to the Armed Forces community across three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. 

The award scheme recognises those who show their support to the Armed Forces community and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant – a pledge from the nation that those who serve or who have served and their families are treated fairly. 

In order to be awarded a Gold award, workplaces must be an exemplar in their local areas, advocating for the Covenant and the Armed Forces community. Gold award recipients must support Armed Forces reserve staff training and mobilisations. The Trust also advocate for the Armed Forces through their supply chain, as well as championing Op Courage (mental health) and Op Restore (physical health) to our staff and patients.

Amongst their workforce the Trust, which runs the Alexandra, Kidderminster and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals, employs veterans, adult cadet volunteers, reservists and many Armed Forces family members.

Stephen Collman, Managing Director of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “In 2020 we made a pledge to the Armed Forces Covenant, committing to support the Armed Forces Community as an organisation and forces-friendly employer. We value the skills and the positive contribution Service Leavers, Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces Community bring to our teams and welcome applications from those who are looking to start a new career in civilian life.

“We were also renewed as a ‘Veteran Aware Trust’ under the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance in 2023, and through our thriving Armed Forces Network we continue to look for innovative new ways to ensure that we are providing the best service possible to our Armed Forces Community Patients, ensuring that veterans in the community that we all live in and serve, feel that we are doing all we can to support their various needs.”

Rebecca Brown, Chair of the Armed Forces Committee, added: “We are also looking into new ways to identify our veteran patients and their families, so that we can provide them with the best care possible and if required signpost them to local charities.”