Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Mental Health Services: Armed Forces

Monday 20 September 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Defence Medical Services provides a responsive and comprehensive treatment service, including improvements in access to mental healthcare with digital triage and remote video consultation.
  • The Government are giving teeth to the armed forces covenant by passing the Armed Forces Bill, and they will ensure that no veteran is ever disadvantaged.
  • The Government are putting an additional 3 million into Op Courage, making a total of more than 20 million this year, and an additional 5 million into armed forces charities, meaning that more than 25 million will go to them this year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gerald Jones Lab Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
Defence Mental Health
Context

The MP is concerned about improving mental health services for military personnel. The existing Defence Medical Services provides treatment, but there are ongoing efforts to enhance access.

Question

What steps he is taking to help improve provision of mental health services for members of the armed forces. He noted that the service currently includes digital triage and remote video consultation.

Answer from Leo Docherty

The Defence Medical Services provides a responsive and comprehensive treatment service, including improvements in access to mental healthcare with digital triage and remote video consultation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify new actions beyond existing initiatives mentioned by the questioner

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Mental Health Veterans
Context

The armed forces covenant states a moral obligation to care for those injured, but the government has missed targets on mental health services for veterans.

Question

As the Minister knows, the Government have missed targets on all mental healthcare for veterans across all services in England. Unless that changes, does it not risk rendering the covenant meaningless? They need to get their act together on mental health services for veterans and the armed forces.

Answer from Leo Docherty

On the contrary, we are giving teeth to the armed forces covenant by passing the Armed Forces Bill, and we will ensure that no veteran is ever disadvantaged.

Not addressed: Did not address missed targets or concrete steps to improve mental health services for veterans

How: Giving Teeth To The Covenant, Passing The Armed Forces Bill

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Gerald Jones Lab Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
Veterans
Context

Charities supporting veterans have been impacted by the pandemic, leading to increased demand for their services.

Question

What additional support are the Government offering charities in order that they can cope with demand? What more can the Government themselves do to support veterans?

Answer from Leo Docherty

The Government are putting an additional £3 million into Op Courage, making a total of more than £20 million this year, and an additional £5 million into armed forces charities, meaning that more than £25 million will go to them this year.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email