Armed Forces supplement: interview with Nick Richardson

‘We come from a culture where you keep on going until you fall over.’

Armistice Day, November 11th, marks the 1918 cessation of First World War hostilities. It commemorates the British and Commonwealth lives lost then and in all military conflicts to follow. 

Nick Richardson served for 23 years in the Royal Navy until his medical discharge in 2012 following two life-changing injuries. He received treatment at the Bath Centre for Pain Services, which he says ‘gave me my life back’. Now he’s an advocate for armed services veterans who live with chronic pain. 

Nick is Veterans Champion for the British Pain Society’s Expert Patient and Carers Committee, and works with, to give just a few examples, Help for Heroes, Supporting Wounded Veterans and NHS veteran-specific services. In this special Armistice edition of Airing Pain, he speaks to producer Paul Evans about military culture, mental health and the support available for veterans. 

Resources and organisations mentioned in the episode:

• NHS care for the armed forces community, including Op RESTORE and Op COURAGE services
• Blesma, The Limbless Veterans (formerly known as the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association)
• Help for Heroes
• Supporting Wounded Veterans