RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Veteran Friendly Practice accreditation programme: a mixed-methods evaluation JF BJGP Open JO BJGP Open FD Royal College of General Practitioners SP BJGPO.2022.0012 DO 10.3399/BJGPO.2022.0012 A1 Alan Finnegan A1 Kate Salem A1 Lottie Ainsworth-Moore A1 Rebecca Randles A1 Lauren West A1 Robin Simpson A1 Veronica Benedicta Grant YR 2022 UL http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2022/07/11/BJGPO.2022.0012.abstract AB Background The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation Programme launched in 2019, aiming to allow practices to better identify, treat, and refer veterans, where appropriate, to dedicated NHS services.Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of the accreditation programme, focusing on benefits for the veteran, the practice, and the delivery of the programme itself.Design & setting The study evaluated the views of veteran-friendly accredited GP practices across England.Method A mixed-methods study was undertaken, which collected data via an online survey from 232 accredited primary healthcare (PHC) staff and 15 semi-structured interviews with PHC veteran leads. Interviews were analysed using modified grounded theory.Results The study found 99% (n = 228) of responders would recommend the programme, 78% (n = 180) reported improved awareness, and 84% (n = 193) a better understanding of veterans' needs. Seventy-two per cent (n = 166) identified benefits for veterans who were engaging more with PHC but participants felt more time was needed, largely owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, to fully assess the impact of the programme on help-seeking behaviour. Challenges included identifying veterans already registered, promoting the accreditation process, and ensuring all PHC staff were kept up to date with veteran issues.Conclusion The programme has increased signposting to veteran-specific services and resulted in greater understanding of the NHS priority referral criteria for veterans. Recording of veteran status has improved and there was evidence of a better medical record coding system in PHC practices. These findings add to the limited empirical evidence exploring veteran engagement in PHC, and demonstrate how accreditation results in better treatment and identification of veterans.