The government has announced £5 million of funding for the Veterans' Health Innovation Fund to improve veterans’ healthcare.

Bids are now open for the money, which can be used to fund innovative projects and technology to enhance veterans' healthcare, with a particular focus on female veterans' healthcare.

The Veterans’ Health Innovation Fund aims to support development of new treatments, techniques and interventions with improvements in innovative surgical techniques, rehabilitation for blast injuries and intervention technologies for mid traumatic brain injury. The fund aims to fund a range of projects to improve understanding of how innovative medical treatments or new clinical pathways can be used to better meet the healthcare needs of veterans.

According to a government press release, veterans face unique health issues as a result of their military service.

The government has said that organisations will receive grants or contracts to research or trial cutting-edge treatments, techniques and interventions for physical and mental health challenges. The fund is open for bids until 31 August 2022.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer said: "Our military veterans deserve the very best physical and mental healthcare available. That’s why it is right that we invest cash in exploring how the latest innovation and technology can be used to help deliver that."