Team provides veterans with priority trauma care
Nominated category: Innovation In Service Development Award
With only a team of three part time staff, the Humber Traumatic Stress Service provides veterans with priority care and direct access to this professional service, which until recently was the only trauma service with a contract explicitly recognising work with veterans. The service improves the delivery of trauma care by providing veterans with a direct route to the trauma service which helps reduce the number if inappropriate referrals and the waiting time for veterans providing a more efficient service.
With a number of services having an 18 month waiting list, the Humber Traumatic Stress Service ensures that veterans have to wait no longer than four weeks from referral for an assessment, where they are provided with a thorough assessment of their needs by a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience of working with veterans.
The speciality unit works in partnership with the Veterans Agency and works closely with Combat Stress to ensure shared clients receive an integrated package of care and a smooth transition between therapeutic intervention and residential stays with the charity.
In the last five years, the team has seen referrals increase five fold illustrating the increasing recognition and demand for the service. Feedback obtained, shows that veterans like to be seen in a service that predominantly works with veterans rather than in general mental health services, which in turn has helped them maintain their relationships, stop drinking, prevent self harm and find new ways to cope.
Raising awareness of the service was paramount to its success which was achieved by carrying out a series of roadshows to mental health teams; developing a bespoke web site for the service, establishing solid links with local charities and veterans, presentations at the National Defence Mental health conference as well as building relationships with senior managers, commissioners and Chief Executives.
John Hall, from the Health and Social Care Advisory Service (HSCAS), explained: “I think that this may be the only local Trauma Service in the UK that has a formal contract that explicitly cognises work with veterans. Thus no matter how small it is, it is pioneering.”