New Scheme Announced To Improve Veteran Services

A new pilot scheme to improve health and wellbeing services for veterans living in Northern Ireland has been announced by the Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA).

The service, backed by £500,000 of UK Government funding as part of the Health Innovation Fund, will run for 18 months, and will be led by Defence Medical Welfare Service, an independent charity.

The support on offer will include:

• Linking veterans with local services to ensure they are receiving the support available.

• Providing advice on physical health issues such as musculoskeletal problems.

• Pain management and lifestyle.

• Mental health support including help with anxiety, depression, PTSD and bereavement.

The support will be provided by new staff embedded within the Defence Medical Welfare Service and the staff will work across Northern Ireland.

Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer said: "If we're going to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran, we need to make sure that veterans can access the support they need in all four corners of the UK.

"This new pilot service for veterans in Northern Ireland will provide important advice and support in areas such as mental and physical health, as well as where to access the right care.

"Backed by £500,000 from our Health Innovation Fund, I'm proud that this is the first Northern Ireland specific funding from the Office for Veterans' Affairs."

The new service will provide assistance in a variety of ways, including linking veterans with local services to ensure they are receiving the help available; advice on physical health issues such as musculoskeletal problems, pain management and lifestyle.

Mental health support will also be readily available for veterans through the pilot, including help with anxiety, depression, PTSD and bereavement.

The pilot will also provide anonymised data insight into the health needs of veterans in Northern Ireland, and data on the effectiveness of a medical welfare support service.

This data will inform future policy making, and ensure any unmet needs are identified and most efficiently addressed.

The Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland, Danny Kinahan, said: "The launch of the Defence Medical Welfare Service led NI Health Project, will go some way to helping fill the gaps that exist within our healthcare system in providing support for veterans, while they wait for, or undergo medical treatment for both physical and mental health. I am encouraged that this project will help provide the much needed healthcare and associated wellbeing support for veterans living in Northern Ireland, and ensure veterans living here feel more included and valued for their dedicated and selfless service."

CEO of The Defence Medical Welfare Service, Mr Paul Gaffney, said: "DMWS are proud to be working with the support of the Office for Veterans' Affairs to deliver a new service to veterans in Northern Ireland.

"This independent project will support both the physical and mental health needs of veterans taking account of their specialist requirements. DMWS work collaboratively with existing statutory and third sector provision to build improved health and wellbeing outcomes for veterans."