'Help is at hand for military veterans' - DMWS
The Defence Medical Welfare Service are an active member of the Herefordshire Armed Forces Covenant and provide support to veterans and their families who are undergoing medical treatment in and out of hospital.
Herefordshire’s Veteran Support Centre (VSC) is providing support to those who need it, despite the coronavirus pandemic. The centre, which provides access and coordinated support in Herefordshire as a one-stop shop for veterans, serving personnel, family members and carers, had to close due to coronavirus restrictions. But the VSC responded quickly to the outbreak to establish a safe way to support veterans who were shielding themselves.
Welfare officer Ashley Winter said: “Once lockdown happened, many of our clients were then considered ‘shielded’ or ‘vulnerable’ so it made sense to combine forces with Herefordshire Council and the Veteran Support Centre. It would have been an impossible undertaking to ensure nearly 60 shielded veterans received regular checks and supplies without the help of the volunteers – they were and continue to be amazing. The volunteers go above and beyond.”
Full Article in Hereford Times covering the story can be read here:
https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/18480336.help-hand-army-veterans/
Photo credits: (l-r). Ashley Winter (DMWS Welfare Officer) and Mike Davey (Veteran Support Centre Manager)
The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) is an independent charity providing help and support to the Armed Forces community, frontline services and NHS staff when they are receiving medical treatment. For 75 years their practical and emotional support has ensured that no family goes through the worry of illness or injury alone.
The DMWS Welfare Officers give confidential medical welfare support to patients and their immediate family as well as to their primary care givers and healthcare professionals. DMWS work with patients when their medical needs are being met but when other issues, problems or social influences may be distracting them from their recovery. The support is tailored to individuals needs.
DMWS operates in hospitals and recovery centres across the UK and Cyprus for serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans, frontline staff, merchant navy and their families.
Service During COVID19: A message from Paul Gaffney, DMWS Chief Executive on the organisation’s operational response to COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.dmws.org.uk/news/a-message-to-supporters-from-paul-gaffney-chief-executive
For further information about DMWS please contact Harriet Mallinson hmallinson@dmws.org.uk
Published: 29th May, 2020