The Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance is a group of NHS hospitals that are leading the way in caring for veterans. The first 25 hospitals are: Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Sussex Armed Forces Network; Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust; Doncaster and Bassetlaw Foundation Trust; East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust; Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust; Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Norfolk and Norwich NHS Foundation Trust; North Bristol NHS Trust; North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust; Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust; North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust; Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust; Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust; Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust; Royal Edinburgh Hospitals, NHS Lothian; Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust; Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust; South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust The recognition means that patients who have served in the UK armed forces will be cared for by frontline staff who have received training and education on their specific needs and who can also signpost them to other local support services e.g. Mental Health.

A Guide to Veteran Services can be downloaded. READ MORE HERE: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-veterans-services

Can you believe it. A 93 year old war veteran targeted. 23,000 Pounds taken in a few hours. Video of this crime. The victim was withdrawing money when he was distracted by one of the men while another obtains the victim's PIN number and switches his bank card. It was only when he tried to use his card again a few days after the theft he realised the cards had been changed. Officers said that within a few hours of the theft, which took place on December 14 just before 3pm, the men had withdrawn £23,000 from the victim's account. DI Simon Bromiley, who is leading the investigation, said: What is quite clear from our inquiries so far is that these three men were very well organised in their deception and very selective about their victim. They watched the gentlemen as he came into the bank and then carried out this despicable and callous theft" – DI SIMON BROMILEY Cash machine distraction thieves steal £23,000 from 93-year-old. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-35132842

Simon Weston has called Jeremy Corbyn's Falklands plan "repugnant surrender" Jeremy Corbyn has been accused by veteran Simon Weston of "repugnant surrender" to Argentina for suggesting it should be given the right to jointly govern the Falklands Mr Corbyn, who opposed the invasion, said that there has to be a move towards "real peace" and that Britain must open a "dialogue" with Argentina over the future of the islands. He said that under the arrangement the Falklands could retain their British nationality while a joint administration is put in place. The comments were severely criticised by Mr Weston, who suffered 46 per cent burns after the RFA Sir Galahad was bombed during the 1982 conflict. Mr Weston said: "It is a repugnant idea. I don't see why it should happen given that the Argentines never had the islands. They have no right to them. "It could cause civil war again by emboldening the Argentinians. It frightens me enormously because he claims to be such a supporter of democratic freedoms while what he is suggesting throwing the Falkland islanders right to democracy out. The Telegraph This man really is showing himself up for the Labour scab that others are warning us about.

Hi Caggers Just after your thoughts on this after a very long discussion with a disabled veteran and the issues he is experiencing due to this: Disabled Veteran is in social housing and at his persent property has two bedroom but only veteran living in property. Now the sticking point: Previously the Disabled Veteran was placed in a High rise some floors up in a one bedroom. ( not the housings fault at all as it was the only property that at that time was available and sort of suitable but housing adapted) His condition got worse was under the hospital consultant that stated in letter to housing at that time that veteran needed to be moved for medical reason due to his condition to a ground floor property that must have a minimum of 2 bedroom as the extra bedroom was required for the veterans physiotherapy equipment and in case a friend/relative/carer needed to stay over. Veteran went through the housing medical process with letters from consultant and was moved to his present property which is ground floor and 2 bedrooms and has been there for a few years now. Now due to these stupid welfare reform he has recently recieved documentation from the local authority as per the housing benefit changes due to bedroom tax stating as he is in 2 bedroom and only entitled to one bedroom his benefit would now be reduced by 14% from April 2013. I was absolutetly disgusted at this as the veteran was moved for medical reasons to the property he is presently in and also it was not through him putting in a transfer request but medical reasons. Now the big problem not one welfare officer/CAB/Free Legal Aid Centres could give him any advice why as there is not one piece of advice anywhere not even on the Service Personel and Veteran Agencies website on how these changes will impact veterans and I am horrified at this. If you look at the Veterans Agency website there is no information so how are veterans meant to prepare and those veterans that arent capable of doing this themselves meant to be able to prepare with absolutely no information of how there entitlement/allowances/pensions may be affected Now the veteran has a copy of the letters from his consultant stating about the move for medical reason and has also asked the housing who are happy to provide to confirm that he was moved for medical reason but he think when he sends these in in wont make a difference and that is also my concern that the local authority will stick by it original letter. Any advice from you fellow cagger would be gratefully appreciated on how to approach this THANKS