Yoxall Health Centre
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-10)

We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.

The Armed Forces Covenant

An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families

The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.

Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant

1.1 We Yoxall Health Centre will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment

2.1 Yoxall Health Centre recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
We also pledge the following:

Promoting the Armed Forces: We have on our waiting screen in reception, on our website and on our Facebook the question are you serving/did you serve. We also have a notice up in our waiting r oom asking for anyone who has served/is serving, no matter how short or even if a volunteer, to let us know and also which force your served in Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community: If any member of the Armed Services came to Yoxall Health Centre asking for help, we would support them in helping them find the right people to help move them forward into gainful employment that suits them Communications, engagement and outreach: We have posters up within the surgery, on our TV screen, our website and our FB page asking for serving member/veterans to get in touch to let us know that they are serving or a veteran no matter how long they have served or for which service Health : If any serving personnel/veteran contacted the surgery and needed medical attention, we would do everything that we could to assist them. If they cant leave the house, we will go to them. If they needed a quiet room to wait in when they come to the surgery, one will be provided. If any help is needed outside of our remit, we will refer and signpost to the most suitable third party that would be the best to help. Civic responsibilities: We are responsible for all of our military personnel whether still serving or retired. We will make sure that any referral or any type of appointment made, they will be seen within a timely manner and involve them within the community keeping them informed of any upcoming activities t hat may be happening

2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.