Welfare

Serving members

The SRRA currently funds private healthcare treatment for dependents of serving Operators on an individual needs basis. This includes mental and physical health support, as well as access to diagnostic tests to accelerate entry into the NHS care pathway.

“The charity’s swift action condensed a potentially life-threatening delay from five months to just five days, ensuring I received timely treatment for my cancer…. Their assistance goes beyond medical expenses; my family has benefited from welfare breaks and counselling support, helping us navigate the emotional strain of my illness and military commitments.”

Serving Association member, 2024

A private healthcare package provides prompt reassurance and treatment if medically necessary, but explicitly does not provide an alternative to the NHS in an emergency or treatment of long-term conditions, or provide treatment that is not considered medically necessary by an appropriately qualified professional.

Former serving members

Former serving members face an increasingly dire landscape for access to healthcare. The strain on the NHS is greater than ever and access to enter the treatment pathway is long and detrimental to health. Private medical insurance is increasingly expensive – prohibitively so for our veterans.

To counter this, the Association is committed to building relationships with healthcare providers that can offer our members a mechanism to enter the treatment pathway quickly, as well as educating our members on the wide array of support available to them.

Physical Health

Key challenges

The nature of the Operator’s service in the armed forces situates them as a particularly difficult group to provide assistance to:

  • Loved ones and carers may not know they have served with the unit
  • By their nature, they are problem solvers and resist any dependencies (perceived or real) on others
  • They have a far greater risk tolerance than most patients and will often not prioritise health needs in a timely manner
  • They may have fallen out of touch with the unit
  • They are naturally of the opinion that they should be invincible and therefore reluctant to seek help.

Finding support

If you are a former serving member and in need of support, please follow the workflow below in the first instance. The Association may be able to assist you should the NHS not be able to provide the support you need.

Workflow highlight healthcare-related pathways of support for veterans

NHS provision varies across the UK, so please refer to your local trust for the most accurate information. The following government-led initiatives are available to veterans:

Physical Health
  • Op RESTORE – NHS England Veterans’ Physical Health and Wellbeing 
  • NHS Wales – for veterans in Wales seeking help with physical problems 
  • King Edward VII’s Hospital – Private London hospital that supports veterans. Military grants and discounts available.
Mental Health
Spiritual Health

As you once had the support of a Padre during your service, you now have the ongoing support of a Padre as part of the Association.

Our Association Padre is here for you and your family, offering a compassionate space to share your joys, sorrows, fears, and memories. Whether you need someone to talk to about relationships, health, grief, trauma, difficult life moments, or emotional and spiritual wellbeing, the Padre is here to assist – both in times of crisis and in everyday life.

If you would like spiritual support, please reach out to the office in confidence for a referral to our Padre.

Other charities

If you are in need of support and the above links do not support your current need, there are additional charities that may be able to assist. A more comprehensive list can be found on the member directory of the COBSEO website (for example), but some key charities are noted below:

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