Veterans, Armed Forces personnel, reservists and their families are benefiting from fantastic support offered by the new Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) Welfare Officer based at Furness General Hospital (FGH).
Mark Kenny is playing an essential role in supporting members of the Armed Forces community across Barrow and the Furness Peninsula.
Mark’s role, delivered in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council, UHMBT and the DMWS, ensures that serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their families can access the services, advocacy and specialist help they need when facing illness, injury, or major life challenges. The post has been funded by Westmorland and Furness Council, the Veterans’ Foundation, ABF Soldiers’ Charity, The Army Central Fund and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
Since taking up his new post towards the end of 2025, Mark has been working daily on hospital wards run by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), often relying on what he describes as “good old‑fashioned detective work” to identify patients with an Armed Forces background.
Mark has built his caseload by walking the wards, talking to staff and patients and following up on any hint that someone may have served. He has already supported numerous people, with more than a dozen active cases and many more informal interventions through conversations, referrals and self‑referrals.
Mark said: “I think the best part of my job is the people; the veterans, their families, the staff. You talk to one person and before you know it, you’re helping five more. The community spirit is amazing. I love being out on the wards, talking to people, listening to them and finding out what they need. It’s like being a detective some days, in a good way!”
The support Mark provides ranges from simple acts of kindness to complex multi‑agency coordination. He has helped stroke patients gain access to specialist equipment, arranged food and transport vouchers for families struggling with costs and linked people with charities such as the Royal British Legion, Mind in Furness, the Armed Forces charity SSAFA and local disability organisations.
Mark regularly works with social workers, occupational therapists and physiotherapists to make sure patients can return home safely.
He said: “It could be anything, from bringing someone a newspaper or some fruit, right through to sorting out housing adaptations, financial support, will‑writing services, or access to mental health treatment. Whatever someone needs, I’ll try my best to sort it.”
Importantly, Mark supports not only veterans and serving personnel but also their families and carers. He has helped partners dealing with exhaustion, arranged priority pathways for children needing autism assessments and supported families navigating benefits systems.
“Sometimes helping the family is the thing that makes the biggest difference,” said Mark. “If a partner or child needs support because of someone’s service history, I’m here for them too.”
Being from Barrow himself, Mark understands the community well and has built strong links with local veterans’ groups, breakfast clubs, the Submariners Association and networks across BAE Systems. He has distributed large numbers of Veterans Passports - a resource that helps record forces‑related health needs - and has worked with UHMBT colleagues to encourage more patients to identify as veterans while in hospital.
To reach even more people, Mark has launched a monthly Veterans’ Coffee Morning at Barrow AFC, held on the first Thursday of every month between 10am and 12pm. The friendly sessions offer bacon rolls, cakes, hot drinks and a chance to meet others from the Armed Forces community.
He is also setting up a new drop‑in at The Bridge community hub in Barrow, where people who may not be attending hospital can still access support.
“The more places I can be, the more people I can reach”, he said. “It’s about getting the word out so no one feels they have to struggle alone. Working with veterans is incredibly rewarding. Just being able to sit with someone who’s anxious, listen to them and take some pressure off means a lot.”
Mark’s work is already making a powerful difference, with positive feedback from patients and families who describe how his support has helped them navigate complex situations, feel less isolated and recover with greater confidence.
He added: “It’s a huge honour to support our local Armed Forces community. If it helps even one person feel safer, supported or heard, then it’s worth everything. It’s a privilege to be trusted by so many people. When someone asks if I’ll visit them at home or support their family, I take that really seriously; it’s why I love doing this work.”
Anyone from the Armed Forces community who needs support, whether a current patient, former patient, family member or carer, can contact Mark directly for help, advice or a confidential chat. Mark can be reached by telephone on 0730 200 9825 or by email at mkenny@dmws.org.uk. Mark can also be found working alongside the Discharge Team at FGH for those who prefer to speak with him in person.