Improving access to health and social care for vulnerable UK armed forces veterans following transition to civilian life

McGill, Gill (2022) Improving access to health and social care for vulnerable UK armed forces veterans following transition to civilian life. Doctoral thesis, Northumbria University.

Preview

Text (Doctoral thesis) mcgill.gill_phd(no stu no).pdf - Submitted Version Download (13MB) | Preview

Abstract

This PhD by Publication brings together seven papers published between 2018 and 2020. The research that informed the published papers has identified key issues as well as the development and implementation of solutions to improve access for military veterans following transition from UK Armed Forces to civilian life. The commentary provides academic and policy relevant contributions to the field of military veteran studies and the papers influence discrete areas of research into access to health and social care. The central premise and the overarching theme of this body of work is that it is essential that health and social care providers understand the characteristics of the veteran population in addition to providing the potential to utilise the Veterans Vulnerability Framework that has been developed through the process of interpretative synthesis.

Central to the commentary is the value placed on peer informed research to support investigation of a community defined as ‘hard to reach’ and the significance of the relationship between service providers and service users to help to shape health and social care provision to better facilitate access. Integral to the focus on peer-informed research is the development of a framework that attends to how vulnerabilities arise in relation to transition from the Armed Forces and, in turn, how the resultant barriers to seeking help and accessing support can occur. By providing a better-informed and evidence-based understanding of the phenomenon of access through the stories that veterans have told, recommendations are proposed for policy, practice, and future research. The Veterans Vulnerability Framework demonstrates to policy makers and those working in health and social care services how vulnerability following transition from the UK Armed Forces operates and where interventions could be applied to support veterans to access and engage with support services. The focus on transition and being outside of the Armed Forces provides an opportunity to identify vulnerability at this juncture and consider improving access to support to promote psychological, physical and social well-being after military service. The focus on transition and being outside of the Armed Forces provides an opportunity to identify vulnerability at this juncture and to consider improving access to support in order to promote psychological, physical and social well-being after military service.

The production of the synthesis argument to consider vulnerability, as a key concept, attempts to improve prediction and prevention of health and social problems and provide a more holistic and comprehensive response to challenges. Informed by themes derived from re conceptualisation of the sample of seven published papers, underpinned by the knowledge gained from three empirical research studies, the commentary reflects on an alternative approach to developing ‘veteran friendly’ services and adopting impactful policy related practice with greater awareness of the sources of vulnerability and the resultant impact. A pragmatic philosophy underpins and frames the commentary to fully consider the research inquiry into improving access to health and social care for vulnerable veterans.

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads