Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Veterans: Government Services

Thursday 2 February 2023 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is conducting research and data collection to understand the needs of veterans and their families.
  • The government has accredited 1,789 GP surgeries and 132 hospital trusts to improve veterans' healthcare access.
  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs is working on health innovation, including a mental health support fund and physical healthcare pathways.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Antony Higginbotham
Veterans
Context

The MP is concerned about ensuring government services adequately support veterans. No specific incident or statistic mentioned, but the context implies a broad concern for veteran welfare.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to ensure Government services meet the needs of veterans?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

We are working to better understand the needs of veterans and their families through research and data collection with organisations such as the Office for National Statistics. We also regularly engage with the charities sector and with veterans directly, for example through the veterans' survey which closes today.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or measures taken to address veteran needs were not detailed

How: We Are Working To Better Understand

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Q2 Ian Levy
NHS Veterans
Context

Recent census data and new information on veteran communities highlight the need for improved healthcare services for ageing veterans suffering from musculoskeletal issues due to military service.

Question

Given the recent census and new data on veteran communities, are there any plans to improve healthcare services for ageing veterans with muscular and skeletal problems incurred through military service?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

Veterans healthcare is a responsibility across the nation, with 1,789 GP surgeries and 132 hospital trusts now veteran accredited. It is a low level of commitment but it makes the world of difference to veterans who are trying to access musculoskeletal services. I am determined that by the next general election, every GP surgery in the country will be veteran accredited and every hospital trust too. I will work hard to ensure we achieve that ambition.

Answered
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Q3 Antony Higginbotham
Veterans
Context

The MP highlights local events and organisations supporting veterans in Burnley and Padiham, inviting the Minister to visit these groups to better understand how government support can be integrated with community initiatives.

Question

In Burnley and Padiham we have long supported our armed forces and veterans including through brilliant local organisations such as Healthier Heroes and the Burnley and Padiham branch of the Royal British Legion which support veterans in the community. We also have local events such as Padiham on Parade which takes place every June as part of Armed Forces Week. Can I invite my right hon Friend the Minister to Burnley to sit with these organisations and see what more we can do to join up Government support with local organisations so that we ensure this is the best country to be a veteran in?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I thank my hon Friend for his continued advocacy for a cause that I know is dear to his heart. The Office for Veterans' Affairs is all about blending third sector and statutory provision. Veterans do not care where their care comes from as long as it is professional and evidence based and they have that community. It is our responsibility through the Office for Veterans' Affairs to ensure they have that care but it will often be delivered by different groups across the country. As my hon Friend highlights there are some wonderful groups up in Burnley doing that, and I would be more than delighted to visit him and talk about how we can support them better.

Answered
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Q4 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Mental Health Veterans
Context

The MP inquires about updates on the work of the Defence and Security Accelerator under the Office for Veterans' Affairs, focusing specifically on veteran health innovations and progress made to support mental health in communities.

Question

Can the Minister provide an update on the work undertaken by the Defence and Security Accelerator on behalf of the Office for Veterans' Affairs on veteran health innovation? What progress has been made to support mental health in the community?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

This year we established Op Courage and Op Fortitude and we are looking at designing a clear physical healthcare pathway for veterans. We are building pillars of support across the United Kingdom. We have put £5 million into a health innovation fund. A lot of individuals came back from Afghanistan and Iraq with injuries that would have been unsurvivable 10 or 15 years ago, with a level of complexity that we had not dealt with before. We are putting money into understanding the science behind that to ensure they have prosthetics for the rest of their lives not just the next two or three years. There is a commitment from the nation under the armed forces covenant to special care for those who are seriously injured.

Answered
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