Veterans and Armed Forces
Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust is committed to employing and supporting members of the armed forces community.
The Trust is part of several schemes which ensure that those who have served, or do serve in the armed forces, are given opportunities to work for us and are treated fairly.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016 which aims to ensure that those who serve or have served in the armed forces and their families are treated fairly whenever they need the Trust’s services.
This commitment covers any contact that forces personnel have with the Trust, including when they attend hospitals as a patient or visitor and when they apply or are eventually employed to work as a member of staff or volunteer with the Trust.
We are proud to have achieved gold accreditation status.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals has been accredited as Veteran Aware by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), meaning it takes account of the needs of members of the Armed Forces Community.
The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) are a group of NHS providers who have agreed to give the best care and support to the Armed Forces community.
Funded by the NHS England Armed Forces healthcare team, the VCHA aims to improve care for the Armed Forces community whilst raising standards for all.
This includes making sure that patients from the Armed Forces Communities, and their families, are paid due regard and are not disadvantaged in terms of access to and outcomes of healthcare, as a result of their military life in line with the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.
The VCHA and the Armed Forces Covenant to work together to improve care of the Armed Forces Community.
We currently hold the silver award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), and are currently working toward gold.
ERS encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same.
The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support although public sector organisations such as the emergency services, local authorities, NHS trusts and executive agencies are also eligible to be recognised.
Recognition events
Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day is a chance for Sherwood Forest Hospitals and all our colleagues to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community; from currently serving troops to service leavers, veterans, reservists, families and cadets. It is celebrated on the last Saturday of June each year.
Remembrance
Remembrance Day honours those who have served to defend our democratic freedoms and way of life. It unites across faiths, cultures and backgrounds to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth.
Here at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, we are very proud to support our service leavers, veterans and active Armed Forces personnel.
Yearly we hold an Armistice Day service and honour the two-minute silence across our three hospitals in respect of the sacrifices of our Armed services.
From veterans of the Falklands War and WW2 to those who continue to play a vital role in service to Britain today, we commemorate military and civilian service through our Remembrance.
