Argyle Medical Group supports Veterans
In Wales, veterans have access to a new service called the All Wales Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. Veterans who think they may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can refer themselves to the service or can access it through other organisations such as the Royal British Legion (RBL), Soldiers Sailors Airmen Families Association (SSAFA Forces Help) and the Veterans Welfare Service (SPVA).
For further information you can visit the All Wales Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service website at www.veteranswales.co.uk
The service is not able to respond to emergency referrals. Veterans in crisis should contact their GP or the Out of Hours Service. There is usually a psychiatrist on-call at all Accident and Emergency Units.
You can also contact the free 24 hour helpline mental health Community Advice Listening Line (CALL) which is available to Veterans. CALL offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service on 0800132737 or by texting ‘help’ to 81066.
The Welsh Government provides support for the services of the charity Combat Stress, which provides a number of nurse led community support groups in Welsh communities. Combat Stress also provide a 24 hour helpline which can be reached on 0800 138 1619. The Helpline is for the military community and their families. It can advise on various issues from mental health to practical support.
Medical Assessment Programme and Reserves Mental Health Programme continue to support referrals and self-referrals.
The Medical Assessment Programme and Reserves (MAP) is available to all ex-service personnel (including Reservists) and provides access to consultants with the knowledge and skills of a military background. Access and referral to the MAP is available either via your GP or by self referral via your LHB.
Substance Misuse
For information and advice contact DAN 24/7, the Welsh Drug and Alcohol 24 hour helpline:
Freephone 0808 808 2234
Text DAN to 81066 or follow this link dan247.org.uk
Bereavement Counselling
The Welsh Government provides funding to Cruse Bereavement Cymru which includes developing support for bereaved families of the Armed Forces in Wales. Cruse UK National helpline: 0844 477 9400 or visit www.cruse.org.uk
NHS Waiting Times
If a member of the Armed Forces, or a member of their immediate family, is on an NHS waiting list and they are moved around the country due to a new posting, any waiting time accrued will be carried forward with them. All LHBs in Wales are aware of this commitment.
Priority Care & Treatment Policy for Veterans
Patients are encouraged to advise their GP or health professional of their veteran status, and GP practices are able to record this using a consistent clinical code within the patient electronic record.
Armed Forces veterans are entitled to priority access to NHS care within Wales for any conditions which are likely to be related to or resulting from their military service. The priority is over patients with a similar level of clinical need for hospital, primary and community care but does not apply to GP appointments.
Whilst declaration of veteran status is a matter of patient choice, declaring veteran status to your GP will enable them to determine whether access to priority treatment can be applied.
The Health Board supports the Welsh Governments work to promote WHC (2017) 014 – The Armed Forces Covenant – Healthcare Priority for Veterans.
Prosthetic Limbs Provisions
When prosthetic limb provision is supplied to Service personnel by the Defence Medical Service this is often leading edge technology. The Welsh Government has committed that this will be matched post service. LHBs and the three Artificial Limb and Appliance Centres (ALACs), situated in Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham, are aware of this.
Infertility Treatment
Recipients of compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for injuries which result in infertility are entitled to appropriate infertility treatment, including IVF, within the NHS in Wales.
In Wales, all eligible patients, including Armed Forces personnel, can access two free cycles of IVF treatment.
Applications for additional IVF cycles may be made as an Individual Patient Funding Request to the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee.