Written question WQ100177
- Asked by
- Gwyn WilliamsPlaid
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to engaging with Swansea Veterans Hub to discuss its plans for supporting veterans experiencing complex PTSD?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health (Delyth Jewell)
Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that all Armed Forces receive priority access to NHS care and treatment for any conditions (mental and physical) which are considered to be related to, or resulting, from their military service.
Welsh Government provides annual funding of £920,000 to Veterans NHS Wales (VNHSW), a national specialist service that offers priority access to psychological therapies and support for Armed Forces veterans experiencing mental health difficulties related to their military service, including PTSD. VNHSW operates through all Health Boards across Wales.
Health boards are responsible for ensuring that local services meet the needs of the local population, including veterans.
More broadly, as part of the implementation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, we are moving towards open-access mental health services. Veterans will benefit from this approach to improving timely access to mental health support.