Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to streamline the transition of medical care from military services to the NHS for service leavers.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for medical care, the Defence Medical Services (DMS) works in partnership with the NHS in each of the four nations. Wherever they live in the UK, all veterans are able to receive veteran specific health care support if they need it. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Ministry of Defence (MOD) Departments of Community Mental Health for up to six months after discharge to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required.

DMS facilitates the transfer of healthcare information for all service personnel when they leave the Armed Forces. Programme CORTISONE will provide the ability to transfer a service person’s healthcare record in electronic form to a GP practice at the end of their service.

The Defence Recovery Capability is a MOD-owned capability designed to deliver programmed, command-led and coordinated support to wounded, injured and sick serving personnel. Each person who comes under the Defence Recovery Capability will get a tailored Individual Recovery Plan which enables them to focus on either their return to duty or transition to civilian life.

The Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Service deliver additional support to service leavers and their families who are most likely to face challenges as they leave the Armed Forces, including facilitating access to NHS services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what initiatives are currently in place to ensure that military veterans receive timely access to (1) physical rehabilitation services, and (2) mental health services, specifically those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Op RESTORE is a bespoke physical health and wellbeing service, commissioned by NHS England, which supports individuals who have served in, or are leaving, the British Armed Forces and have physical health injuries and related medical problems attributed to their time in the armed forces.

NHS England also commissioned Op COURAGE, which is the comprehensive veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service. Access to Op COURAGE is via referral or by direct contact from veterans. A campaign to raise awareness of Op COURAGE launched on 9 January 2024.

In addition, The National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), which is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme, is a new 70-bed facility which will benefit all patients, including veterans. Construction started in 2023.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on implementation of Project Cortisone; and when he plans that it will be fully operational.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Programme CORTISONE has now provided the ability to access archived healthcare records and users are able to interrogate operational healthcare data in a faster, more accurate and timely manner. New digital triage and remote video consultation capabilities have been prioritised for delivery in addition to e-rostering and caseload management systems by the end of 2025.

The current estimate for the Full Operating Capability is December 2027.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding was provided for Op Restore in 2023.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

Planned spend on Op RESTORE for 2023/24 is £0.5 million. Additional costs associated with treatment costs form part of overall expenditure within integrated care boards and are not separately identified.

Op NOVA launched on 1 April 2023. Planned spend on Op NOVA for 2023/24 is £2.03 million.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Scheme received in (a) 2018, (b) 2019. (c) 2020, (d) 2021. (e) 2022 and (f) 2023.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Members Questions. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding has been provided to each element of the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans scheme in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Members Questions. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) very seriously injured and (b) brain injured veterans are currently supported through the Integrated Personal Care for Veterans System scheme.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Individuals who are eligible for support under the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Scheme are proactively identified by medical staff whilst they are on the Defence Recovery Pathway. A total of 18 Veterans have been referred to the scheme since it began in 2019 and ten have been approved

All Veterans supported by the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Scheme have complex and enduring mental, physical or neurological injuries sustained as a result of Service. Six of the ten have a brain injury.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding charities received under the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Scheme in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020, (d) 2021, (e) 2022 and (f) 2023.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Integrated Personal Commissioning Scheme for Veterans does not grant funding to Charities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans were (a) referred and (b) approved for the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans scheme in each year since 2018.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Individuals who are eligible for support under the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Scheme are proactively identified by medical staff whilst they are on the Defence Recovery Pathway. A total of 18 Veterans have been referred to the scheme since it began in 2019 and ten have been approved

All Veterans supported by the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Scheme have complex and enduring mental, physical or neurological injuries sustained as a result of Service. Six of the ten have a brain injury.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Veterans' Strategy Action Plan 2022 to 2024, published 19 January 2022, how much of the additional £18m for veteran health services in England has been spent as of 20 July 2022.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

Through the Spending Review, £18 million was allocated to NHS England for veterans’ health services referred via the Veterans Strategy Action Plan. This funding will be implemented in 2023.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with the devolved Administrations to increase veterans access to cross border medical referrals where there is (a) a clinical need or (b) long local waiting lists.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

Health services across the United Kingdom are available to members of the armed forces community. The Government continues to work with the devolved administrations to ensure veterans have access to services which meet their needs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to plans outlined in the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022-24 to promote opportunities for Service leavers to go into careers with the uniformed and health services, how his Department plans to measure and evaluate the success of those plans.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Ensuring veterans maintain stable and fulfilling employment post service is a key theme of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan. The Government has committed over £70 million on more than 60 Action Plan commitments, including promoting opportunities in the uniformed and Health services. It will be delivered by departments through sharing of resources and messaging, creation of networks and championing schemes such as Step into Health and Advance Into Justice.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs monitors the delivery of the Strategy Action Plan, and regularly convenes departments across Government to ensure these important commitments are met.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what funding has been allocated to promote opportunities for service leavers and veterans to go into careers with the Uniformed and Health Services and associated support staff.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Ensuring veterans maintain stable and fulfilling employment post service is a key theme of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan. The Government has committed over £70 million on more than 60 Action Plan commitments, including promoting opportunities in the uniformed and Health services. It will be delivered by departments through sharing of resources and messaging, creation of networks and championing schemes such as Step into Health and Advance Into Justice.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs monitors the delivery of the Strategy Action Plan, and regularly convenes departments across Government to ensure these important commitments are met.

Found: PTSD separately and together in US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, who were treated in the US DVA Veterans

Found: PTSD separately and together in US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, who were treated in the US DVA Veterans