International webinar series launched for veterans

The University of Chester’s Westminster Centre for Research in Veterans is hosting a new series of research presentations.

The Armed Forces Community Research international webinar series is free to all and registration is available here. The sessions will take place every two months.

The first will take place on Thursday, September 17 at 4pm with Professor Andy Bacon, the Lead for the NHS Policy and Strategy Armed Forces Health, discussing NHS interventions to improve care for the Armed Forces. He will discuss how in the UK there has been a focus in ensuring the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces Community (AFC). The AFC can access a full range of generic health care services from the NHS and veterans also have a range specific NHS services in England, such as for mental health or for rehabilitation. He will discuss how new interventions are being developed to improve care are being developed.

The session will also feature Lieutenant Colonel Debra Ritsperis, the Lead Nurse for Education, Research and Clinical Development at Army Headquarters. She will share information on the RCN Defence Nursing Forum, which provides professional networks and support to nurses, student nurses and healthcare assistants working in the Defence Medical Services, including the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Regular and Reserve nursing services, as well as Civil Service nurses working in Defence Primary Healthcare. The Forum champions Armed Forces matters for Serving and Veteran personnel through the Royal College, to ensure representation in healthcare policy and practice and act as SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) to the Royal College for Armed Forces and Veterans matters.

Colonel (Retd) Alan Finnegan, Professor of Nursing and Military Mental Health at the University of Chester, said: “We are delighted to be hosting this International Armed Forces Armed Forces Community Research Webinar series. The concept originated from a USA / UK nursing collaboration with academics from the American Academy of Nursing’s Military and Families Expert Panel and their UK colleagues. This series is being sponsored by the Royal College of Nursing.”

The next session will take place in November. For more information visit the Centre website at: https://www1.chester.ac.uk/events/armed-forces-community-research-international-webinar-series?list=8443

Pictured - Lieutenant Colonel Debra Ritsperis