Celebrating Armed Forces Week 2024
This week we are celebrating Armed Forces week and Cwm Taf Morgannwg (CTM) University Health Board’s commitment to supporting Armed Forces families in our communities and staff who work within the health board.
Delivering the best care to those with a military background
Karen Wright, Assistant Director of Policy, Governance and Compliance, shared: “At Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board one of our core values is to work together as one team, to ensure everyone is included and represented. This includes ensuring those who serve, or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect, should they need to access our services or seek employment opportunities with the health board. As a health board we are proactively taking steps to deliver a better patient and employee experience, by creating a supportive and welcoming environment for our Armed Forces colleagues.
To celebrate Armed Forces Week (24 -28 June 2024) the health board has arranged a programme of events which provide a great opportunity for us as an organisation to reflect on the important progress we have made so far and celebrate our Armed Forces colleagues.”
We re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant on 25 March which reaffirmed our commitment to supporting Armed Forces families within our communities.
For us to deliver the best care to those who have a military background we need to know if you are a part of the Armed Forces community (regular, reservist, veteran, spouse, or child of a serving member).
Please inform a member of staff when you are attending a hospital appointment or your GP surgery so we can ensure this information is captured and that you are on the correct pathway.
If you would like further information or support please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) teams across the health board:
Bridgend PALS
Telephone: 01656 754194
Email: CTM.BridgendPALS@wales.nhs.uk
Merthyr PALS
Telephone: 01685 724468
Email: CTM.MerthyrCynon.PALS@wales.nhs.uk
Rhondda PALS
Telephone: 01443 443039
Email: CTM.RhonddaTaffEly.PALS@wales.nhs.uk
GP Veteran Friendly Pathway
This programme, launched by Health Education Inspectorate Wales (HEIW) in May 2023, enables GP practices to register to become accredited Veteran Friendly Practices.
Via the programme, GP practices sign up voluntarily to undertake specialist training on veterans' health and wellbeing and promote fair treatment and respect for people who have served, or are currently serving, with the British Armed Forces.
Five GP practices in the health board have embedded the pathway. One of the surgeries - Ferndale Maerdy Surgery – recently celebrated its one year anniversary with the veterans group. Rhondda Fach Veterans Group was named by local veterans and was set up by the surgery in April 2023. It has increasingly gained in numbers, with around 25 veterans now attending. The surgery is a finalist in this year’s Veterans Wales Awards and the winner will be announced on 3 July.
Dr Heena Singhal receiving the Welsh Veteran Awards finalists’ certificate.
The group is supported by several staff at Ferndale Maerdy Surgery who are able to support the veterans’ well-being, signpost to third sector organisations, and provide advice and a comprehensive support system that is well received by the veteran community.
Rhondda Fach Veterans group
There are plans to develop the group going forward, such as creating a garden at the rear of the surgery which would provide veterans with a place to sit and chat, and plant some flowers and vegetables.
21/06/2024