Hereford Voice

"Revolutionising Road Woes and Highlighting Potholes to Herefordshire Council: 🕳

Hereford Voice - 𝗣𝗢𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣𝗦 Approach to Highlighting Herefordshire's Pothole Predicament" One '𝗣𝗢𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣𝗦' Card at a Time!

Today's Pothole Additions Include This One On Wordsworth Road 

"Revolutionising Road Woes and Highlighting Potholes to Herefordshire Council: 🕳

Hereford Voice - 𝗣𝗢𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣𝗦 Approach to Highlighting Herefordshire's Pothole Predicament" One '𝗣𝗢𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣𝗦' Card at a Time!

Today's Pothole Additions Include This One In Bodenham 👇

"Revolutionising Road Woes and Highlighting Potholes to Herefordshire Council:

Hereford Voice - POT TRUMPS Approach to Highlighting Herefordshire's Pothole Predicament" One 'POT TRUMP' Card at a Time!

Today's Potholes Include Yazor Road

Welcome to POT TRUMPS 'Herefordshire Edition'

Dear Herefordshire Council,

As we navigate the maze of potholes that pepper our roads, it's time for a game-changing approach to highlighting this perennial problem. Introducing POT TRUMPS 'Herefordshire Edition' – an innovative way to showcase the severity of potholes across Herefordshire while engaging the community in a fun and interactive manner.

By assigning scores to categories such as 'Pothole Peril,' 'Road Rattlers,' 'Tire Troubles,' and 'Swerve Skills,' this creative initiative not only sheds light on the increasing presence of potholes but also underscores their impact on our daily lives. 

This light-hearted yet impactful strategy serves as a rallying cry for action, urging you to prioritise road maintenance and invest in long-term solutions to ensure safer and smoother journeys for all Herefordshire residents.

Let's pave the way to smoother roads together – one 'POT TRUMP' card at a time!

Sincerely,
Hereford Voice

We are now 'Twinned' with our friends @pot.trumps.chelmsford (Instagram) who have been so kind and we would personally like to thank Nick for all his input and creative advice. 

It has taken us a while to collate all of the information and images of various potholes around Herefordshire for us to be able to create our unique Pot Trump Cards. (Some of the potholes may have already been repaired as we have reported each one to Herefordshire Council).

Each card comes with it's own data (might not be completely accurate but is more to highlight the significance of each pothole) if scores reach over 90 they then become a SHINY card, hopefully there will not be many of these.

We will release new cards every week to add to our collection, here are the first 3.

⚠️ You can report potholes HERE

Or click on our unique QR Code below 👇

Herefordshire Council and Hereford Football Club confirm agreement that secures the Bulls’ future at Edgar Street

Paul Walker, Chief Executive Herefordshire Council, Chris Ammonds, Chairman Hereford FC and Councillor Harry Bramer at Edgar Street Stadium

Herefordshire Council and Hereford FC have today (Saturday 20 April) confirmed that a deal has been agreed that will see the club remain at the iconic Edgar Street stadium until 2070.

The new agreement secures Hereford FC’s home in the city and provides vital security as the club seeks to continue its development on and off the field.

In addition to agreeing a long-term lease for the club to remain at Edgar Street, the council is also exploring options for the wider development of the Blackfriars End, working closely with Bulls’ officials so Edgar Street once again becomes a four-sided stadium as part of the project.

Work will begin at the Blackfriars End this summer with the demolition of the old stand.

Councillor Harry Bramer, cabinet member community services and assets, said:

“Hereford FC and the Edgar Street ground are an integral part of life in our city, and an asset to the whole county. We’re delighted to have this arrangement in place and are looking forward to working in partnership with the football club on future developments at Edgar Street”

Hereford FC Chairman, Chris Ammonds, said:

“This is a huge moment for Hereford FC as it secures our long-term future at Edgar Street.

I am thrilled we can make this announcement jointly with Herefordshire Council today and am very excited to see what the future holds once the Blackfriars End has been demolished this summer.

On behalf of all Bulls fans and everyone at the club, I would like to sincerely thank Councillor Bramer and his colleagues at the council for the willingness they have shown to work with us and reach this agreement.

I’d also like to thank Phil Pratt from Alder King for the support he has provided to the club in our discussions regarding a new lease

We understand that a substantial amount of money has already been spent on obtaining a Barrister's opinion prior to this challenge.

Oh and just to clarify, this challenge has nothing to do with Hereford Voice or our admin Colin as we can see that other local pages are guessing as usual and obviously frustrated that we again broke the local news,😉 but clearly they don't have a clue other than to lift snippets from the original article and funding page and come up with their own headlines. If people wish to remain anonymous that is their choice however, all will be revealed if this challenge ends up in the Courts. 

Today, Prince William attended a service at Hereford Cathedral to honour Major Mike Sadler, the last founding member of the SAS, who passed away at the age of 103.

Image courtesy of Karwai Tang/Getty

The Special Air Service veteran received the Polar Medal, military medal and military cross for his service, and his actions were portrayed in the BBC series SAS: Rogue Heroes.

Other attendees at the private service included close family, friends, and professionals. Mike was the last surviving member of the renowned combat team known as L Detachment SAS. Mike served as the chief navigator for the famed squad known as 'The Originals'.

A group of concerned Herefordshire residents upset at the impending loss of the Three Counties hotel have launched a last-minute legal challenge to try and stop the clearing of the site by persuading the Council to strike out the planning permission given last month for the demolition of the landmark hotel and the building of a new Lidl store.

They hope to take their fight to the High Court if the Council refuses and will attempt to persuade a judge to quash the permission instead through a Judicial Review.

If Herefordshire Council or the Judge agree the planning committee decision was made incorrectly the permission could be rescinded and, the campaigners hope, further applications will be refused. They hope that the hotel will then reopen and serve as a community asset to the residents of Belmont, Newton Farm, and the County in general.

They say the hotel was successful until new owners from Oxfordshire took it over in 2016 from the Price family, who had run the business at a profit for two decades.

They also say the hotel was the only facility within easy walking distance for residents of Belmont and Newton Farm that offered a public bar and restaurant of the same standard – as well as being the only hotel in the area – and the demolition of the hotel would be a great loss to the community.

They say the Council’s planning officers made mistakes in advising elected members on the planning committee in the course of the meeting, in particular stating that Councillors couldn’t refuse permission on ‘loss of community asset grounds’ because officers had already decided the Three Counties wasn’t a community asset and that there were alternative facilities in the area (without naming which facilities they were referring to).

They are also worried about the impact that another supermarket with 1800-2000 odd vehicle movements a day will have on congestion South-side and particularly on the stretch of the Belmont Road adjacent to MacDonald’s.

Council officers had recommended approval for this second application in less than three years despite a large number of objections from members of the public and local Councillors. The planning committee voted to grant permission on officer advice after two hours of deliberation.

They say time is very short in terms of submitting a legal challenge should Herefordshire Council refuse to strike out the permission (JR applications must be before the courts no less than 6 weeks after the decision is made) and anyway who wants to help with costs to contact the organisers via the email below

Email | savethethreecounties@proton.me

#HerefordVoice | #HerefordNews | #HerefordshireNews | #HerefordCommunity | #HerefordLife | #HerefordshireCouncil | #Hereford | #ThreeCountiesHotel

New drone assists the county’s community protection team to gather evidence of fly-tipping and other environmental crime

The council’s community protection team is now able to more easily gather information about illegal waste disposal in areas not easily and safely accessed on foot, thanks to a new drone.

The drone has already helped to gather evidence of fly-tipping at remote spots, and on the full extent of illegal waste disposal which is not clearly seen at ground level.

The community protection team uses the drone to investigate following reported incidents of fly-tipping and other similar issues. The drone, which is operated by a fully trained and accredited pilot, collects high quality footage which will be used to assist in the prosecution of any person carrying out environmental crime.

Councillor Barry Durkin, cabinet member roads and regulatory services, said:

“It’s important we protect our outstanding natural environment, and we will use all the technology we can to do this. The new drone is already proving to be a valuable tool in supporting our community protection team to investigate reports of waste being dumped illegally. So our message is clear to anyone thinking they can dispose of waste or carry out any illegal activities in any area where they think that it will go undetected – we won’t hesitate to use our Eye in the Sky to protect Herefordshire.”

The drone was purchased through a government grant for projects to help protect the environment. When not being used for investigations by the community protection team the drone is used to support other council departments, such as planning, estate management and ecology, when access is an issue.

Local MP Jesse Norman, who has led the campaign to Clean Up the River Wye for over three years, has today hailed the publication of the Government's new Action Plan for the River Wye.

The plan, with £35 million of new funding, sets out a wide range of measures to address phosphate pollution and other environmental impacts on the Wye.

And in a crucial development, the Government has appointed well-known local resident and former Ross-on-Wye Councillor and MEP Anthea McIntyre as a new River Champion for the Wye.

Commenting, Jesse said:

"I have been campaigning for an Action Plan and  joined-up approach to cleaning up the River Wye for over three years now, and this is a potential turning point for the river. I am especially pleased that the Action Plan recognises the brilliant efforts of volunteer groups up and down the river.

"At the Shell Store meeting in 2022 we laid out what was needed: a properly funded single collective long-term effort bringing everyone together. And I reiterated the importance of this approach at our meeting with the previous DEFRA Secretary of State last June. 

"Now the Government has delivered on its side, with a larger package than anyone expected, which is fantastic. The challenge is now for us all -- including farmers, Welsh Water, Herefordshire Council, wildlife and environmental groups -- working with the new River Champion, to respond quickly and decisively to make it happen."

A man has been charged following a fatal collision on Home Lacy Road in Hereford on Sunday 8 October.

Stephen Susans, of Verschoyle Gardens in Ross-on-Wye, has been charged with being the driver of a vehicle failing to stop after a road accident, being the driver of a vehicle involved in a road accident failing to report the accident and perverting the course of public justice.

The 57-year-old will appear at Hereford Magistrates Court on 22 May. 

The firm behind the Wildwood chain - which has a restaurant in the Old Market Hereford revealed plans to shut a raft of sites as part of a major restructuring.

Tasty, which also runs locations under Dim T brand, said it plans to exit around 20 loss-making restaurants after a “challenging” start to the year.

Under the plans, the group would shut 18 branches, with two of these sites already closed to diners.

Tasty currently operates 43 Wildwoods and six Dim-T pan-Asian restaurants, as well as two non-trading sites and three sub-let venues.

The group's board has put forward a restructuring plan it said would help ensure its long-term survival.

Tasty's 43 Wildwood restaurants serve pizza, pasta, burgers, and steak and occupy a number of heritage buildings.

The hospitality group said on Tuesday its financial performance"continues to be inhibited by a tail of underperforming sites".

A spokesperson said:

“The use of a restructuring plan is considered the most effective means to reorganise the group to return it to profitability and secure its long-term future which should change the financial viability, profitability profile and long-term prospects of the group."

Tasty said it expects to operate around 30 restaurants by the end of the current year.

But, it hasn't yet confirmed the locations of the sites earmarked for closure or when they could shut.

Here is the full list of Wildwood sites at risk:

• Dim T, Charlotte Street, London
• Dim T, Hampstead, London
• Dim T, Victoria, London
• Dim T, Whiteley, Hampshire
• Dim T, Winchester, Hampshire
• Wildwood, Epping
• Wildwood, Bicester
• Wildwood, Braintree
• Wildwood, Maidstone
• Wildwood, Taunton
• Wildwood, Market Harborough
• Wildwood, Crawley
• Wildwood Skipton
• Wildwood, Lincoln
• Wildwood, Billericay
• Wildwood, Birmingham
• Wildwood, Salisbury
• Wildwood, Whiteley
• Wildwood, Peterborough
• Wildwood, Kingston
• Wildwood, Canterbury
• Wildwood, Gerrards Cross
• Wildwood, Newmarket
• Wildwood, Bournemouth
• Wildwood, Chichester
• Wildwood, Ely
• Wildwood, Rushden Lakes
• Wildwood, York
• Wildwood, Llandudno
• Wildwood, Plymouth / Royal William Yard
• Wildwood, Hornchurch
• Wildwood, Cambridge
• Wildwood, Wantage
• Wildwood, Chelmsford
• Wildwood, Brentwood
• Wildwood, Didcot
• Wildwood, Hereford
• Wildwood, Stratford-Upon-Avon
• Wildwood, Port Solent
• Wildwood, Telford
• Wildwood, Hinckley
• Wildwood, Cheam
• Wildwood, Nottingham
• Wildwood, Seven Dials
• Wildwood, Northwich
• Wildwood, Liverpool
• Wildwood, Covent Garden

The Wildwood restaurant opened in Hereford's Old Market Shopping Centre in May 2015, see our original article - https://hfd.news/HX9i6

A planning application from Dorian Kirk (The Yard, Rule Of Tum and The Burger Shop) has been submitted to Herefordshire Council planning for the proposed development and conversion of a part of the vacant commercial unit into a bakery. 

This application is for 'Commercial kitchen extraction to rear flat roof' at 26 Commercial Street in Hereford

Full details HERE

Can you believe that some people drive cars like this beauty and don't insure it? Anyway the Police seized it, which made for a good night story 😀

What is even better is that even though they missed this last night, they soon jumped on it this morning 😉

Around 10am this morning, emergency services were called to Rope Walk in Ross-on-Wye.

They remained on the scene for at least two hours and discovered a body in the water.

Police, Fire Service and Midlands Air Ambulance were dispatched to the location.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: "We were called by the fire service just after 10am to an incident in Ross-on-Wye.

"An ambulance, paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham and an ambulance from South Western Ambulance Service attended.

"We found a woman. Unfortunately, nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed deceased at the scene."

Part of the Rope Walk in Ross-on-Wye has been cordoned off as emergency services continue working at the scene, including a crime scene investigation unit.

The woman who was discovered in the river has not been identified, and police have not yet released an official update.

Four people have been charged with offences including four counts of assaulting a police officer following an incident on Union Street, Hereford on Saturday 30 March.

Among the officers assaulted, one officer was seriously injured and remains in hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Richard Quinn, 47, of Meadow Bank, Little Birch, Herefordshire was charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent, intentional strangulation, and common assault by beating and appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday (1 April).

Alex Quinn, 18, of Meadow Bank, Little Birch, Herefordshire was charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent and common assault by beating. They were both bailed to appear at Worcester Crown Court on 30 April.

Carolynn Quinn, 44, of Wyeval House, Bridge Street, Hereford was charged with two counts of assault of an emergency worker and theft from a person.

Robynn Quinn, 22, of Court Orchard, Fownhope, Hereford was charged with two counts of assault of an emergency worker. They were both released on bail to appear at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on 8 May.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to call the lead officer DC Dube of West Mercia Police via 101, quoting incident 44_I_30032024.

The are some serious concerns over flooding in the Newton Brook, which has never flooded but they may change once the pond at the hotel is filled in.

Today we see the start of the groundworks in preparation for the controversial but recently approved Lidl planning application to demolish the Three Counties Hotel and build a Lidl Supermarket on the notorious congested hotspot A465 Belmont Road in Hereford.

This planning application received hundreds of objections and a petition with over 1000 signatures from local people although some people were in support of another supermarket on the Belmont Road.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀! 😉

𝟭. 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

1.1 The ‘Three Counties Hotel’ is set back off Belmont Road (A465) Hereford to Abergavenny road and located in the south west of Hereford about 1.5 miles from the City Centre. The application site is about 1.66 hectares in size and currently has landscaped gardens (pond and patio area to the front which established trees) as well as car parking. The site is bounded by Belmont Road to the south, residential properties within Glastonbury Close to the north and east. To the south east is a wooded area and adjacent to that a ‘Drive Thru’ restaurant (McDonalds). To the west beyond the car park are residential dwellings in Flaxley Drive. The Newton Brook runs adjacent to the site to the west. The brook runs from Waterfield Road under Belmont Road and up alongside the Three Counties Hotel then into Glastonbury Close which also runs between Golden Post and Sydwell Road. Residential properties on the periphery of the site are a mix of semi-detached, terraced and detached properties.

1.2 A Tree Preservation Order covers 4 individual trees across the site, ref T1, T2, T3, & T4. The site is not located within a designated area known as a national Landscape (previously known as area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The site lies within Flood Zone 1 (low risk of flooding). The site is not located within or adjacent to a Conservation Area and there are no heritage assets (including non-designated heritage assets) within the site, adjoining the site or in close proximity.

1.3 The existing hotel (now closed) had 60 bedrooms with 32 located in an annex to the rear (known as the Garden Rooms).

You can see our original 'Breaking News' article from March 2022 here 👉 https://hfd.news/Lidl

 

On Thursday 28 March at Worcester Crown Court two men who ran a county line into Hereford have been handed prison sentences of a total of nine years and ten months.

Andrew Pritchard, 37, of Ridgemoor Road in Leominster was today given a five-year prison sentence for two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs- cocaine, and two counts of acquiring/using/possessing criminal property.

Taylor Warr, 22, of Sheriff Drive in Brierley Hill, West Midlands was sentenced to four years and ten months for being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug- Class B – Cannabis and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property.

Following an investigation, Warr and Pritchard were running the county line named ‘Terry’ that was used to supply class A drugs into Leominster, Hereford.

‘County lines’ is the name given to the process and operation of drugs transported from predominately larger urban areas to smaller towns, often in rural areas, with the ‘line’ referring to the mobile number used to order the drugs.

Detective Constable Kyle Hopkins said:

“This was a detailed and complex investigation involving high level offending spread across a number of Police forces, Warr and Pritchard were responsible for trafficking class A drugs into the local community.

“The misery of drugs is well known, and it devastates lives on a daily basis, I welcome these sentences as a demonstration of the severity of the offences. West Mercia Police will relentlessly pursue those who traffic drugs, regardless of where they operate, and will always seek to prosecute those who cause harm to the local community”

Local Authorities to Embrace Quirky Charm with More Murals in Hereford.

In a bid to celebrate Hereford's unique quirks, city officials are considering adding two new murals to the ever-growing outdoor art scene. Following the success of recent street art installations, Hereford could soon be adorned with even more eye-catching masterpieces.

The first mural in consideration aims to capture the essence of Hereford's perpetual traffic congestion, a sight as common as spotting pigeons in the city centre. Depicting cars locked in a symphony of honking horns and frustrated drivers, this mural promises to be a real traffic stopper.

But that's not all! In a stroke of genius, the second mural proposal aims to pay homage to Hereford's beloved potholes, a feature so cherished by the local authority that they're practically considered landmarks. With whimsical illustrations of potholes adorned with flowers or even tiny picnic scenes, this mural is sure to drive home the city's unique sense of humour.

Councillor, Mrs. Mabel Doodle, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "We've always known Hereford was a city with character, and what better way to showcase it than through art? These murals will not only bring joy to residents but also serve as a gentle reminder to the council that maybe, just maybe, fixing the potholes should be a top priority!"

As anticipation mounts for these laugh-inducing additions to the cityscape, residents eagerly await the chance to snap photos with their favourite traffic jams and potholes. With creativity flowing as freely as the Wye, Hereford is poised to cement its status as a city with both charm and chuckles. Keep your eyes peeled for updates as Hereford prepares to paint the town with even more personality!

You managed to login then in the end...

𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝗯𝘆𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱?

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet has agreed to prioritise the progress of the development of a bypass to the west of Hereford.

Cllr Philip Price, Cabinet Member Transport and Infrastructure, welcomed the decision, saying: “This is a very important positive step for the future of our City and Herefordshire as a whole. It’s vital that we develop the infrastructure to support much needed new housing and economic growth in the county, as set out in our Local Plan.”

As outlined in the Core Strategy and emerging draft Local Plan, the county needs to develop the infrastructure needed to:

Improve transport connections and strengthen the resilience of the network – Vehicles travelling north to south through the county mostly go through Hereford to cross the river. Creating another road bridge across the River Wye will reduce reliance on Greyfriars Bridge and the A49 through the city, improving journey times and improving resilience of the network.

Promote better health and wellbeing for our residents – reducing the volume of traffic on roads in the City creates the opportunity to deliver improvements to walking, cycling and public space in the city.

Improve local air quality and public places – reducing congestion will help improve air quality in the City making it a cleaner more attractive place to visit and spend time.

Support growth in the county - There is a requirement to develop around 16,100 new homes in the county by 2041, with many of these being planned for Hereford. Delivering all these new homes is not possible without strengthening our local infrastructure. Reducing congestion and improving journey times will be a boost to local businesses and improve residents’ access to work, education, training and services.

Cllr Price continued: “This road strategy will strengthen the resilience of our network, delivering more reliable journey times and improving road connections, while also creating better links for local people and businesses. It will enable the delivery of more accessible and improved public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure, which will further help to reduce congestion, improve air quality in the City and enable our residents to lead healthier and more active lives.

“The opinions of local people and businesses has been key in making this decision, and the process has included a thorough review of the feedback gathered from the Hereford Transport Strategy Review. The views and experiences of local people will remain paramount, and we will be fully consulting with residents and businesses as we progress.”

Firefighters continue to dampen down this evening. 

A fire ripped through the old NHS derelict building on Eign Street in Hereford this evening. The were several appliances and firefighters tacking the blaze at one point. Firefighters took a while to get the fire under control which has causes further substantial damage to the building and roof.

There have been a few fires in this building over the years and since it became derelict.

· Survey of 5,000 veterans in England shows over half (58%) of respondents living in the West Midlands have experienced a mental or physical health issue potentially related to their service

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer. 

· Yet 16% have not sought help from a healthcare professional – often due to fears their experiences and conditions won’t be understood

· Dr Jonathan Leach OBE, NHS England Associate Medical Director for Armed Forces and Veterans Health and GP at Davenal House Surgery Bromsgrove, is backing initiative to encourage GP practices to become Veteran Friendly Accredited

A new initiative has been launched today (Monday 25th March) to improve veterans’ access to healthcare services, after new data found that thousands of former armed services personnel in the West Midlands may be silently struggling with their health.

The initiative, launched by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in conjunction with NHS England and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA), aims to encourage more GP practices in the West Midlands to sign-up to become ‘Veteran Friendly’. It is part of a wider government campaign to encourage veterans to seek help and let their GP practice know they’ve served, and raise awareness of the support available to them.

The newly-commissioned study of nearly 5,000* veterans in England found that over half (58%) of respondents based in the West Midlands have experienced a mental or physical health issue potentially related to their service since leaving the armed forces with more than three quarters (77%) stating that their condition had deteriorated during this time.

Despite this, nearly one in five (16%) of those veterans based in the West Midlands who have experienced service-related issues after leaving the armed forces have not sought help from a healthcare professional. The most common reasons given nationally for not seeking help were that they ‘prefer to manage their issues on their own’ (30%) and believe a civilian health professional ‘won’t understand their experiences’ (15%).

However, the findings showed that almost two-thirds of veterans (63%) would be more likely to seek help for any issues they might experience if they knew their GP practice was signed up to the Veteran Friendly Accreditation scheme, which was launched by the RCGP and NHS England in 2018. The free support programme helps practices to deliver the best possible care and treatment for patients who have served in the UK armed forces.

As part of this new initiative, the RCGP is therefore encouraging more practices in the West Midlands to take the quick and simple step of signing up to the programme, which provides busy practice teams with a simple process for identifying, understanding and supporting veterans and, where appropriate, referring them to dedicated veterans physical and mental health and wellbeing services, such as Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service.

To date, 634 of the 1,266 GP practices in the Midlands are accredited, while just over 3,000*** of the 6,313 GP practices in England are signed up to the programme are accredited, while at a national level. An evaluation of the scheme by the University of Chester revealed that 99% of accredited practices recommend it – with the findings showing the most valued benefits of signing up are the simple process for identifying veterans, clear referral pathways to specialist NHS veteran healthcare services and faster access to dedicated support1.

Latest data suggests there are more than 167,000 veterans – defined as anyone who has served a day or more in the armed forces – in the West Midlands and 1.74m living in England2 - with research showing that they may have unique health needs as a result of their service. Common health issues can include musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders3, pain3, mental health problems4, drug and alcohol misuse5, adjustment disorders5 and hearing issues6. However, while the average GP practice sees a veteran patient every day, almost half (47%) of practices may be unaware of how many of their patients are veterans5.

Dr Jonathan Leach OBE, NHS England Associate Medical Director for Armed Forces and Veterans Health and GP at Davenal House Surgery Bromsgrove, said:

“Not only does the Veteran Friendly Accreditation scheme support practice teams to deliver the best health outcomes for their veteran patients, but it also saves busy practice staff precious time by enabling them to more quickly and effectively identify, understand and support veterans - reducing the need for repeat appointments and shortening waiting times for diagnosis and treatments.”

Minister of State for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer, said:

“Providing veterans with access to the very best health care is a fundamental part of mine and this government's ambition to make this the best country in the world to be a veteran, with the RCGP and NHS England’s Veteran Friendly Accreditation scheme playing a pivotal role in supporting this.

“With this new research showing that veterans are more likely to seek help if they know their practice is Veteran Friendly Accredited, I’m urging those practices that are yet to sign up to take the quick and simple step to ensure they’re able to deliver the best possible care and support to the veteran community.”

“I encourage all veterans to contact their GP and identify themselves as a veteran, as doing so will help to ensure that they receive the support that’s right for them. It will also mean that they can access the specialist NHS health services that exist for them should they need to, such as Op COURAGE.

Signing up to become Veteran Friendly Accredited is a quick process and can be done by anyone in the practice team. After signing up, the practice team will receive regular resources and training designed to help them to deliver the very best care and treatment to patients who have served in the armed forces. They also receive materials to promote their Veteran Friendly status, enabling them to send a strong signal to those patients who have served in the armed forces.

Veterans can find out more about the support they can receive by telling their GP practice they have served and by visiting www.nhs.uk/veterans.

Practice teams can learn more and get their practice Veteran Friendly Accredited by visiting rcgp.org.uk/veterans.