Helping GPs understand veterans

Dr Mike O’Reilly, Veterans’ Affairs’ Principal Clinical Advisor spoke to General Practitioners (GPs) at their recent annual conference.

Veterans’ Affairs is aiming to help GPs understand more about veterans, some the conditions that they might be experiencing and how the public health system can help them.

Mike discussed with the GPs what it’s like to leave service and begin to use the public health system, and what being a veteran is likely to mean to their patient. He suggested that all GPs ask, “Have you ever served in the New Zealand Defence Force?”

There is evidence that asking that one question can make a difference for the veteran and go a long way towards building a good relationship with them.

This is part of a wider campaign to improve those first consultations between GPs and veterans, particularly with veterans who have recently left service.

In September there will be posters in GP’s surgeries throughout New Zealand aimed at the other person in the consultation, the veteran. The aim of these posters is to remind veterans to let their GP know that they have served.