NHS bosses hail support for veterans

TAYSIDE health bosses have hailed a veterans support service during a visit to mark Armed Forces Week.

A delegation met heroes and helpers as they were given a tour of the Veterans First Point Tayside centre at Kings Cross Hospital in Dundee.

NHS Tayside chairwoman Lorna BirseStewart said she was “delighted” to meet the team – which includes veteran peer support workers who bring personal experience of military service to the role, and clinicians with expertise in the assessment and treatment of a range of mental health needs.

She added: “I very much welcomed the opportunity to meet with the team and to hear more about the considerable work they do to provide advice and support to ex-service personnel.

“I have also been keen to hear more about the strategic developments of veterans health and wellbeing services in Scotland, including the work of the Scottish Veterans Care Network.

“This is especially significant during

Armed Forces Week which shows support for the men and women who make up the armed forces community.”

Veterans First Point Tayside works alongside NHS Tayside and Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership to provide services for former military personnel.

Dr Michelle Ramage, clinical lead for NHS Tayside adult psychotherapy services and Veterans First Point Tayside, said: “The most frequently encountered difficulties on leaving the armed services are problems with accommodation, employment and finance.

“However, a minority will experience mental health problems and a small, but significant, proportion of ex-service personnel develop more severe enduring psychological difficulties. The team provides an invaluable service to this group of people.”

Urging veterans who may be struggling to reach out for help, she added: “Appointments are informal and relaxed, providing veterans and their families the opportunity to talk with members of the team and self-refer for welfare advice from our peer support workers or assessment by one of the team clinicians.

“We support the veterans as they are referred on to other services for treatment as well as delivering specialist psychological therapy in-house.”

NHS Tayside’s executive champion for armed forces Sarah Dickie and nonexecutive board member Peter Davidson also joined the visit.

Ms Dickie said: “I am grateful for the warm welcome given by the wider team, clinicians and veterans during our visit.”

The UK Government marked Armed Forces Week by confirming all government departments are now taking part in a guaranteed interview scheme for ex-military, with 800 veterans already offered employment through the programme

More than £1 million in new funding for new digital service for veterans to verify their status online and access services was also announced.