The King was visiting Chatfield Health Care (CHC), in South West London and spoke to former armed forces personnel about their experiences and the vital help they receive through the tailored veteran-friendly programme
King Charles displayed his characteristic sense of humour during a visit to veterans at a London medical facility, joking about the “endless screws and plates in his arm”. The monarch travelled to Chatfield Health Care (CHC) in South West London, where he met former service personnel to learn about their experiences and the specialist support provided through the veteran-friendly initiative.
During his visit, the King spoke with veteran David Wiggins, whose left arm was in plaster. When Mr Wiggins mentioned he had three plates in his arm, Charles quipped whilst providing a health update: “I’ve got endless plates and screws in my arm as well.
“All that’s left of you when you drop dead is ‘Made in Switzerland’.”
Speaking to other veterans over tea, he remarked: “The difficulty, I suspect, is that when you leave the forces, you are leaving that whole family of your unit and suddenly left wondering what to do. This must be a great help.”
Chatfield is one of 4,450 veteran-friendly GP surgeries across England, reports the Express.
The practice joined the scheme in 2021 and presently supports 49 veterans, though Dr Shane Barker, a veteran and GP who leads the Chatfield initiative, estimates up to 120 veterans in the surrounding area could benefit from its services.
Dr Barker explained: “We don’t know who they are, and they are self-sufficient and have more trauma in their background, both physical and mental. Those things are issues we are trying to overcome so we can identify and help them.”
He continued: “Veterans generally have often been through things that most men and women do not get to see. There is an awful lot of baggage that they carry around.
“They are also trained to be self-sufficient, resourceful and self-sustaining. They are not the first to call for help.
“It (the veteran-friendly service) is important because they have served our country in different ways. They don’t make the decisions that lead them to be in Iraq, Sierra Leone or Kosovo or any whichever conflict, but they are put there and and have to cope with the consequences.
“It would be a great thing if we could recognise that contribution to what is our way of life.”
The Chatfield surgery, alongside other GP practices, has the ability to direct patients towards NHS support programmes specifically designed for veterans – known as Op Courage and Op Restore.
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