Help for Scotland's war heroes
New health initiatives
Scotland's veterans and health care professionals are to be provided with access to specialist information and advice on health issues, Veterans Minister, Keith Brown revealed today.
The Healthcare Providers Awareness leaflet will help ensure more veterans in Scotland are identified by health workers as Armed Forces veterans.
By ensuring , veterans are known to their health provider, they can easily obtain access to specialist advice services on offer to them through NHS Scotland including priority treatment for a Service related condition, subject to clinical need.
The leaflet will be distributed to all GP practices and other primary care providers including hospitals and health centres via the 14 NHS Boards.
The Veteran Healthcare Guide - available on the NHS inform website (www.nhsinform.co.uk) - will offer guidance to veterans on specific health concerns and advice with mental and physical recovery.
The Scottish Government, NHS 24 and Veterans Scotland worked in partnership to deliver the two new resources.
Resources
At Stirling's Citizens Advice Bureau, launching the initiatives, Mr Brown said: "These two new resources I hope will be invaluable to our former service personnel in helping them to identify new sources of support and advice on health issues.
"The Scottish Government is committed to supporting our country's veterans, and with input from partner organisations like Veterans Scotland, we will continue to develop, deliver and implement new and innovative policies to support our service personnel, their families and veterans.
"In addition to these initiatives announced today, Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland's Armed Services Advice Project, which was set up two years ago, also provides general advice to armed forces personnel on how to handle a range of issues, including debt, unemployment and housing concerns."
Launch
Martin Gibson of Veterans Scotland, said: "The launch of NHS inform information zone on veterans health provides an excellent source of rich and detailed information on a whole host of clinical and social issues which can impact Scottish veterans and is designed to enhance their health and wellbeing. The website is clear, easy to access and provides linkages to specialist knowledge and the broader charitable groups which do so much to support our Veterans.
"A helpful leaflet has also been prepared to further emphasize the website's benefits. I am enormously grateful to the Health Information Services team at NHS 24 who have made this possible and I would highly recommend those who have an interest or role in caring for Scotland's Veterans to make full use of the information provided. My personal thanks also goes to Keith Brown, our Veterans Minister.
"The Scottish Government have gone to great lengths to make resources and support available to our Veterans and the NHS inform Website will rest at the heart of how we deliver to the many thousands of men and women who have served in our Armed Forces."
Specialist support
Craig Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Stirling's District Citizens Advice Bureau Ltd, said: "It is a real pleasure to welcome Veterans Minister, Keith Brown, to Stirling today. Stirling District Citizens Advice Bureau Ltd recognises that there are particular groups who often need specialist types of support.
"One of these is the Veteran Community and their dependents, many of whom have very specific problems which need specialist advice, or whose problems are complicated by the fact that they are suffering from psychological or physical trauma. Our Armed Services Advice Project is here to offer support on the ground and help with many the issues of transition onto Civvy Street."
