King Charles has joked about “dropping dead” as he visited a medical centre which provides extra understanding of patients who are veterans.
The King spoke to former Armed Forces personnel about their experiences and the vital help they received through the veteran-friendly programmes at Chatfield Health Care in West London.
The 76-year-old spoke with veteran David Wiggins, whose left arm was in a cast after he came off his bike in Richmond Park, fracturing his elbow and wrist.
Speaking to Mr Wiggins, Charles said: “Are they keeping that under control, I’m so glad,” as the veteran told the King that he had three plates in his arm.
The King joked: ‘All that’s left of you when you drop dead is ‘Made in Switzerland’
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Charles replied: “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 King had tea with five veterans as he heard about how the facility supports former servicemen and women.
He said: “I’m so glad, I hadn’t realised there was this marvellous effort in specialising with veterans in GP practices which is clearly making a big difference.”
The royal was taken around the facility by Dr Shane Barker, who noted many veterans are “proud” and “don’t want to burden anyone else and like to sort it out themselves”.
The King had tea with five veterans, hearing about the work of the facility
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Charles responded: “The difficulty I suspect is that when you leave the forces, then you’re leaving that whole family of your unit.
“You’re suddenly left wondering what to do, I presume; it must be a great help.”
The health centre is among 4,450 veteran-friendly practices in England, with it currently having 49 veterans, but could have as many as 120 in the local area.
Dr Barker, who is a veteran himself, told the King that “one important thing” was to ask a patient if they had served in the armed forces, as it opens up a series of possible health and support.
The King was shown around the facility by Dr Shane Barker
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Dr Barker said: “We don’t know who they are, and they are self-sufficient and have more trauma in their background, both physical and mental.
“Those things are issues we are trying to overcome so we can identify and help them.
“Veterans generally have often been through things that most men and women do not get to see.
“There is an awful lot of baggage that they carry around.
The King said the facility ‘must be a great help’
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“They are also trained to be self-sufficient, resourceful and self-sustaining. They are not the first to call for help.”
The doctor explained that the veteran-friendly service is “important because they have served our country in different ways”.
He continued: “They don’t make the decisions that lead them to be in Iraq, Sierra Leone or Kosovo or any other conflict, but they are put there and have to cope with the consequences.
“It would be a great thing if we could recognise that contribution to what is our way of life.”