DMWS is an independent charity providing an independent and confidential medical welfare service to frontline staff whenever they are receiving medical treatment. We understand that any hospital treatment or healthcare intervention whether planned or unplanned can be stressful and can bring with it feelings of isolation, stress and worry, all of which may hamper recovery.
DMWS Welfare Officers 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. We provide practical and emotional support to ensure that no family goes through the worry of injury or illness alone. The support we offer is tailored to the individual needs and may include a confidential and impartial listening ear, helping to explain and resolve any medical care issue and referrals to other agencies for support.
All our Welfare Officers are full-time professionals drawn from a variety of backgrounds including military, healthcare, social work and counselling. They are all trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and have a Diploma in Welfare Studies accredited by the Institute of Welfare.
We operate across the UK, and overseas, supporting those who put themselves in harm’s way to serve our country. This includes Armed Forces personnel, Reservists, Veterans and their families, the Police, and increasingly other front line services, as well as to their primary care givers and healthcare professionals.
Service Description
Welfare support for veterans who are on a medical pathway.
Medical Welfare for the older Veteran Community
About the service
As the veteran community is continuously growing we have expanded our medical welfare service to support veterans when they are receiving medical care. Our Welfare Officers are experts in their field, drawn from a variety of backgrounds including healthcare, social work and counselling, and many are veterans of the Armed Forces themselves.
The Aged Veteran Project supports veterans aged 65 and over, their family members and carers. We currently support Aged Veterans in Bristol and Somerset, Greater Manchester, Herefordshire, Nottinghamshire and Scotland.
The projects are supported by the Aged Veterans Fund funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds.
Our Welfare Officers are aware of challenges facing veterans and offer practical and emotional support to those receiving medical treatment. We can make an independent and impartial early needs assessment and identify issues that may affect a patient’s well-being. Our support is tailored to individual needs and may include a confidential and impartial listening ear, helping to explain and resolve any medical care issue, signpost and support referrals to other organisations for support.
As well as supporting veterans themselves, we liaises with and supports family members and the bereaved.
