‘Healthcare for the Armed Forces Community: a forward view’, published in 2021, outlines NHS England’s commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces community.  Intended as a companion document to the NHS Long Term Plan it sets out the following nine commitments which have been informed by feedback from patients and their families, as well as commissioners, providers, the MOD and Armed Forces charities.  These are intended to supplement and inform the work already underway in regions and through integrated care systems (ICSs) to meet the goals and ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan.

Working together across regions, ICSs, defence and charities, as well as with patients, service users and families, will ensure that we can make tangible improvements for the Armed Forces community.

The nine commitments:

1. Working in partnership to commission safe, high quality care for serving personnel and their families
2. Supporting parents, carers, children and young people in the Armed Forces Community
3. Helping the transition from Armed Forces to civilian life
4. Identifying and supporting Armed Forces veterans
5. Improving veterans and their family’s mental health
6. Supporting veterans in the criminal justice system
7. Identifying and addressing inequalities in access to health care
8. Using data and technology to improve services.
9. Driving research and innovation in armed forces healthcare.