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Healthcare for veterans
21/02/2008
A £500,000 pilot initiative to take foward improved mental healthcare for veterans has been announced.
NHS Lothian will trial the new approach to community-based mental health services, which will be specifically designed to improve the care, support and recovery available to veterans with mental health needs.
This follows the recent guidelines given by the Scottish Government to all health boards in Scotland that all veterans with mental health needs resulting from their time in the forces should receive priority NHS treatment.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Veterans can return to civilian life with particular mental health problems brought about by their exposure to highly stressful combat and humanitarian situations. The Scottish Government believes we need to do everything we can to help them and that's why I'm delighted to announce our investment in this pilot scheme.
"We want to see a community-based, one-stop-shop for veterans' mental healthcare to offer them effective support. This will be a partnership in the best sense of the word, involving the NHS, the charity Combat Stress, veterans' organisations and others to deliver fresh approaches to care.
"The pilot will take a flexible approach and we will listen and respond where the case is made for change and improvement."
James Barbour, Chief Executive, NHS Lothian said:
"I am delighted to be involved in this important and innovative pilot. From my visit to Iraq in July 2005 I am very aware of the challenges our soldiers face.
"Through this initiative, we aim to provide easy access for veterans to a variety of mental health services, as well as a range of social health care. This will enable us to meet their specific and individual needs which will be undertaken in the most suitable, local and accessible settings.
"Our highly trained staff have wide ranging expertise in providing care and support for patients with a variety of mental health issues and, as part of our Joint Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy, we are committed to delivering flexible, mental health services in the community.
"We are looking forward to working with all our partners in developing this service."
Commodore Toby Elliott, Chief Executive of Combat Stress, a charity which provides care and advice to veterans with mental health problems, said:
"Anything which can be done to improve the services required to meet the needs of this group of veterans is most welcome - Combat Stress looks forward to working in partnership with NHS Lothian and the Rivers Centre to ensure that this scheme is a success."
This new community-based pilot in Lothian will involve partners including the charity Combat Stress, which is experienced in working with veterans.
Locating the initiative in Lothian takes advantage of the staff and services already operating at the Rivers Centre, a specialist traumatic stress clinic, and the proximity of the military barracks in Edinburgh.