Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support veterans to (a) secure employment, (b) access appropriate housing and (c) access mental health support following medical discharge.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This Government is fully committed to ensuring that all veterans, including those undergoing medical discharge, have easy access to support when and where it is needed. Personnel who are medically discharged are automatically referred to Defence Transition Service (DTS) or Veteran Welfare Service (VWS). Service leavers, veterans, and their families can access support, help and information with issues that may endure beyond discharge irrespective of their reason for discharge. DTS/VWS clients are supported according to their needs and preferences, this may be simple transitional needs or enduring healthcare support for more complex challenges including PTSD.
For employment support, the Ministry of Defence-hosted Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is the initial point of employment support provision for veterans for up to two years before and after leaving military service. For individuals facing significant barriers to employment due to medical conditions, CTP provides tailored support through the CTP Assist programme. This initiative offers bespoke, intensive assistance to help those with additional needs successfully transition into civilian employment. Op ASCEND is available two years after discharge and connects veterans and their families with employers and supports them into sustainable careers in strategic sectors.
For housing support, Op FORTITUDE is the support referral pathway to connect veterans at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness and the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme funds housing organisations to deliver wraparound care and support services to veterans.
Structured Mental Health Assessments conducted by Defence GPs are part of the medical discharge process, and where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, Defence Medical Services work in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) 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.
Veterans can also access specialist mental and physical health support through Ops COURAGE and RESTORE, which provide a broad range of specialist mental health, physical and wellbeing care services to veterans in England, with similar services available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of abolishing (a) NHS England and (b) some integrated care boards on (i) veteran-focussed services provided by NHS England and (ii) veteran-tailored healthcare provision.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Following the announcement on the abolition of NHS England, work is progressing to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities from NHS England to the Department.
The Department is committed to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, and these ongoing assessments will inform the programme as it progresses. NHS England will continue to undertake its statutory functions until parliamentary time allows for legislative changes to be made.
Whilst this transformation takes place, the Department will ensure that it continues to evaluate impacts and work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care within veteran focussed services.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which organisation will have responsibility for veteran-focused healthcare following the abolition of NHS England.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Following the announcement on the abolition of NHS England, work is progressing to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities from NHS England to the Department.
The Department is committed to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, and these ongoing assessments will inform the programme as it progresses. NHS England will continue to undertake its statutory functions until parliamentary time allows for legislative changes to be made.
Whilst this transformation takes place, the Department will ensure that it continues to evaluate impacts and work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care within veteran focussed services.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time was between a service personnel being informed of a decision to medically discharge them and the date of their discharge in each year since 2023.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has comprehensive policies and procedures in place to facilitate a smooth discharge process for UK Service personnel leaving their Service. Policy provides a timeline of actions to be taken from nine months before leaving; these steps include arranging a final medical and dental examination, meeting with a resettlement officer, submitting pension forms, and ensuring personal records are accurate. The process also includes returning service property and IDs, taking terminal leave, and receiving a service leavers' pack. The MOD offers support through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and Defence Transition Services (DTS), which provide help with employment, housing, health, and other aspects of transitioning to civilian life.
The MOD also has a comprehensive policy in place for managing personnel who are wounded, injured, and sick (WIS), which includes coordinated support for those medically discharged. Medical discharges follow a specific process involving a medical board review, and personnel may be eligible for compensation. The MOD aims to provide personnel with a "Discharge Assessment," which is a final case conference to ensure all issues are resolved or a plan is in place before they leave.
Personnel who are medically discharged are automatically referred to DTS or the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS). Service leavers, veterans, and their families can access support, help and information with issues that may endure beyond discharge irrespective of their reason for discharge. DTS/VWS clients are supported according to their needs and preferences; this may be simple transitional needs or enduring healthcare support for more complex challenges including PTSD.
Structured Mental Health Assessments are part of the medical discharge process and are conducted by Defence GPs and screen for mental disorders at the point of discharge. Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, Defence Medical Services work in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) 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. In some circumstances a DCMH Mental Health Social Worker will undertake a full assessment of transition needs, including onward referral to NHS and third sector services for continued mental healthcare.
The period between being informed and the actual date of discharge can vary significantly, depending on various factors, including individual entitlement to leave and the duration between a medical board awarding a particular medical grading and an employment board sitting and deciding on whether to medically discharge. Information on the average time between a Service person being informed of a decision to medically discharge them and the date of their discharge in each year since 2023 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the discharge process for service personnel.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has comprehensive policies and procedures in place to facilitate a smooth discharge process for UK Service personnel leaving their Service. Policy provides a timeline of actions to be taken from nine months before leaving; these steps include arranging a final medical and dental examination, meeting with a resettlement officer, submitting pension forms, and ensuring personal records are accurate. The process also includes returning service property and IDs, taking terminal leave, and receiving a service leavers' pack. The MOD offers support through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and Defence Transition Services (DTS), which provide help with employment, housing, health, and other aspects of transitioning to civilian life.
The MOD also has a comprehensive policy in place for managing personnel who are wounded, injured, and sick (WIS), which includes coordinated support for those medically discharged. Medical discharges follow a specific process involving a medical board review, and personnel may be eligible for compensation. The MOD aims to provide personnel with a "Discharge Assessment," which is a final case conference to ensure all issues are resolved or a plan is in place before they leave.
Personnel who are medically discharged are automatically referred to DTS or the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS). Service leavers, veterans, and their families can access support, help and information with issues that may endure beyond discharge irrespective of their reason for discharge. DTS/VWS clients are supported according to their needs and preferences; this may be simple transitional needs or enduring healthcare support for more complex challenges including PTSD.
Structured Mental Health Assessments are part of the medical discharge process and are conducted by Defence GPs and screen for mental disorders at the point of discharge. Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, Defence Medical Services work in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) 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. In some circumstances a DCMH Mental Health Social Worker will undertake a full assessment of transition needs, including onward referral to NHS and third sector services for continued mental healthcare.
The period between being informed and the actual date of discharge can vary significantly, depending on various factors, including individual entitlement to leave and the duration between a medical board awarding a particular medical grading and an employment board sitting and deciding on whether to medically discharge. Information on the average time between a Service person being informed of a decision to medically discharge them and the date of their discharge in each year since 2023 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for the Op Courage service.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England meets with the regional providers of Op COURAGE on a regular basis to review the individual services, to ensure that they are meeting the needs of veterans. They are undertaking a comprehensive review which includes the time that veterans wait for assessment and treatment. Any recommendations from the review will be implemented from April 2026.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve access to mental health services for veterans in the North West.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who have served our country. In the North West and across the United Kingdom, the Veterans Welfare Service provides advice and support to veterans and their families. In England, Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE provide a broad range of specialist mental health, physical and wellbeing care services to veterans.
Additionally, with the North West Thrive Together programme, it is building and improving the veteran self-help referral process and reducing the stigma of asking for help by those that need it the most.
The Reducing Veteran Homelessness ‘Homes at Ease’ programme in the North West provides mental health support for housing applications. In 2024-25, it delivered 267 psychotherapy sessions to 54 beneficiaries to provide a bridge to highly stretched services in the region.
In May this year, we also announced VALOUR, our new commitment, backed by £50 million, to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support, which will ensure easier access to essential care and support for veterans across the country.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support veterans' services in Eastleigh constituency.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country, no matter which community they are based in. In Eastleigh and across the country, the Government is ensuring a wide range of support is available for veterans. At the 2021 census, 3,518 people in Eastleigh reported that they had previously served in the UK Armed Forces, representing 4.6% of the population aged 16 and over.
The Ministry of Defence runs the Veterans Welfare Service, which provides advice and support to veterans and their families. For support with employment, the Career Transition Partnership is the initial point of provision for those leaving military Service and Op ASCEND is the employment pathway for veterans.
In England Op RESTORE and Op COURAGE provide physical and mental health specialist services. Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway connecting veterans with support.
In May this year, we also announced VALOUR, a new commitment, backed by £50 million, to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support, which will ensure easier access to essential care and support for veterans across the country. A new regional approach, based on a network of VALOUR support centres and regional field officers, will help to ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of their local communities.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the leadership of the Royal Air Forces Association on its charitable work.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Royal Air Force (RAF) enjoys a long-standing and collaborative relationship with the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) recognising the critical role the organisation plays in supporting the RAF community, including Serving Personnel, veterans, and their families.
RAFA provides a wide range of welfare and community services, including mental health support, financial assistance, and social engagement opportunities. The RAF works closely with RAFA to ensure these services are accessible and effective, fostering a shared commitment to the well-being of the RAF family. The RAF actively engages with RAFA through a variety of activities and initiatives at all levels and takes advantage of every opportunity that arises to work with the charity.
Furthermore, the RAF regularly engages in formal settings with RAF charities, including RAFA, such as the biannual Deputy Chief of the Air Staff’s Charity Forum, the Charitable Stakeholders meeting, workshops, research symposiums and events. There has been a recent focus on developing a RAF Charities Charter and working closely with the RAF Families Federation, parented by RAFA, to provide a critical confidential channel for personnel and families who are committed to improving the quality of life for the RAF family, at home and overseas.
This close partnership ensures that the RAF and RAFA work in unison to address the needs of the RAF community, both past and present. The RAF remains hugely grateful for RAFA’s unwavering support and looks forward to continuing this vital collaboration in the years to come.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve access to mental health services for (a) service personnel and (b) veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
To improve access to mental health services for Service personnel, Defence Medical Services (DMS) has established Defence Mental Health Networks (DMHNs) across the UK. These specialist community mental health services provide enhanced access to expert assessment and treatment for Service personnel experiencing mental health disorders. By introducing new single points of access, enabling the sharing of specialist skills across network locations, and consolidating clinical and governance processes, DMHNs are reducing wait times to enhanced assessments and core treatment therapies.
DMS has further introduced standardised training for primary care clinicians incorporating emerging digital interventions to ensure that Service personnel can access initial mental healthcare at any Defence medical centre.
Op COURAGE, the Veterans Mental Health, and Wellbeing Service, provides an integrated mental health care pathway for veterans in England, with similar services in other parts of the UK.