King Charles displayed his characteristic humour while visiting Chatfield Health Care in south-west London, where he spoke to veterans about their experiences and the tailored healthcare programme for former armed forces personnel. During the visit, the King joked about his own health, telling one veteran with a cast and three plates in his arm: "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'."
The monarch, who is the patron of the veteran-friendly initiative, chatted with veterans over tea, acknowledging the difficulties of transitioning from military to civilian life. "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," he said.
Chatfield Health Care is among 4,450 veteran-friendly practices in England, having signed up to the programme in 2021. Currently, the practice supports 49 veterans, but GP Dr Shane Barker, himself a veteran, estimates up to 120 in the local area could benefit. Dr Barker highlighted the challenges of identifying veterans, who often are self-sufficient and carry physical and mental trauma. "They are not the first to call for help," he said.
Dr Barker emphasised the importance of the programme, noting that veterans have served the country and often bear the consequences of conflicts. "They don't make the decisions that lead them to be in Iraq, Sierra Leone or Kosovo... but they are put there and have to cope with the consequences," he added. The practice can refer patients to NHS programmes Op Courage and Op Restore for veteran-specific mental health and physical health support.
