Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has pledged to support veterans and active service personnel by pledging a military covenant.

The Armed Forces Covenant, signed by key members including Chief Operating Officer Birju Bartoli, is a national commitment to fair treatment, looking after not just the military personnel but their families as well.

Their dedicated service to the Armed Forces community includes reserve forces training, guaranteed job interviews for service leavers, and additional paid leave for volunteers attending annual camps.

The trust is also proactive in supporting reservists through the stages of mobilisation and demobilisation, with an active network for Armed Forces staff.

CEO Birju Bartoli said: “We were delighted to be able to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.

"As a trust we recognise the important role that armed forces personnel play in our community and we are committed to supporting them and their families.”

Priority care is provided to military members and their families when feasible, particularly those who have relocated to Northumberland and North Tyneside.

A noteworthy initiative is the Trust's Reserves and Veterans staff network, a space encouraging shared experiences, support, and voice among staff from military backgrounds.

This work has recently put the trust in the running for the English Veterans Awards for its Staff Veterans and Reserves Network efforts.

Chris Yates, anaesthetics teaching fellow at Northumbria Healthcare, nominated the trust.

He said: “I nominated NHCT due to their excellent Veterans and Reservists staff network and the support that the Trust has provided to me within both my Reservist and NHS careers."