I read the quote below from Elinor Burnham -she has been lobbying unsuccessfully to Edwina Hart to get some provision for servicemen and women returning to Wales who are suffering from Combat Related Post traumatic Stress Syndrome
"servicemen and women, emergency service workers and others who have been exposed to exceptionally catastrophic events can go on to develop PTSD. Too many are not getting the treatment they need and urgent action must be taken.
“Growing numbers of PTSD sufferers are being abandoned in Wales and the best practice being employed in countries such as the Netherlands is being disregarded.
I dug a little further and found that no data is collected centrally by WAG to determine the number of mental health trauma specialists who are qualified to assist CR- PTSD sufferers.And there are no figures to indicate how big the problem is in Wales from a health or social need perspective.
There is however next to nothing to support these service people, Mrs Hart has refused to support organisations like Pathways in Bangor who were trying to stem the flood of suffers and their families. mental trauma is not as easy to see as physical,but can cause as much suffering.
Approximately 10% of the prison population are ex-service personnel. 2,000 are estimated to have PTSD. 12% of the homeless population are veterans. Over Christmas Pathways took in clients, who otherwise would have taken their own lives that: "With no disrespect to NHS Mental Health professionals, it is likely that the first time they encounter an ex-serviceman with CR- PTSD will be their first appreciation of a complex psychological condition that correlates poorly with the usual spectrum of “civilian” mental health disorders."
Dr. Steven Hughes, Regimental Medical Officer 2 PARA, Battles of Goose Green and Wireless Ridge, Falkland Islands, " If conventional Mental Health Services were so comprehensive there would not be such a high veteran rate of suicide, high prison population, and large number of veterans sleeping rough. " Complex Military PTSD is by definition not within the routine practice of NHS Mental Health Services"
The consequences are not always seen , the soldiers suffer horrendous flash backs, cannot sleep get personality disorders etc, that impacts on the their relationships with partners ,family and friends and there is no where other than some voluntary help that they can go to.
Why isn't this being sorted ?
4 comments:
Perhaps there is very little action from the Assembly because the research will reveal that dealing with the problem would be very expensive at a time when budgets are tight.
Personally I believe that if the Welsh NHS/social services treats someone whose condition was caused by serving in the UK military then they should send the bill for treatment to the UK MOD rather than be expected to meet it from the existing budget.
Anon what a sad refelection these are Welsh men and women. The NHS budget comes from the block grant which comes from the UK pot
So you would send the bill for anyone who isnt Welsh and is taken ill in Wales to the NHS as well
its that narrow minded thinking that keeps Wales in the back water.
Brilliant that work is being done. It was, however, Elfyn Llwyd MP (Plaid Cymru) who first highlighted this problem in Parliament - and he has taken this a lot further than Elinor.
In February of 2010, Plaid Cymru in Westminster launched a policy paper setting out their recommendations for improving welfare provision for veterans of the Armed Forces when they return from war zones.
This followed on from campaign work Mr Llwyd had done since early 2008 on the issue.
This then became a manifesto issue for all major political parties in the 2010 General Election.
It was Elfyn Llwyd MP, along with Napo, who first uncovered the appalling statistic that veterans of the Armed Forces make up roughly 10% of those in the Criminal Justice System (i.e. in prison, on probation, or parole).
Elfyn Llwyd is now sitting on the panel of the Nutting Inquiry, having been commissioned by the Howard League for Penal Reform, to look into this problem. The Inquiry will publish its report in the autumn of 2010:
http://www.howardleague.org/inquiry-advisory-group/
Elfyn Llwyd is campaigning to open a veterans' convalescent home in Carmarthenshire, Gelli Aur. This will be to help all veterans, not simply those with symptoms of PTSD.
Finally, Elfyn Llwyd is the Chair of the Justice Unions Parliamentary Group - a group that has been compiling an action plan to tackle this issue:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/13/military-ukcrime
This action plan, with a list of 22 recommendations to parliament, was published today.
Elfyn Llwyd will appear on Newsnight on Monday to speak about this.
As I said, great that work is being done in the Assembly on this. But if you're looking for a North Wales politician who's led on this issue, I'd suggest Mr Llwyd has done rather more than Elinor to merit praise.
DJ
many thanks for that. I can use the information
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