Meeting the mental health needs of ex- military personnel

The “Beyond Combat” conference is being organised by Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust and Hull Teaching PCT. Planned for 27 November at the KC Stadium in Hull, the conference is targeted at health professionals whose work brings them into contact with ex-military personnel. For more details log onto: www.humber.nhs.uk/htss.

In recognition of the work they are doing, Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust and Hull Teaching PCT have both been nominated for Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards. The NHS Trusts have pioneered health and mental health services that have led to the development of national policies for fast-tracking treatment of military veterans.

Launched this year, the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards are intended to recognize partnership working between members of the Defence Medical Services and civilian healthcare professionals, who provide care for service personnel, veterans and their dependents.

It is just a year since Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust launched a policy that allowed all military veterans – including those who are not war pensioners but who were suffering from problems related to their military service – to be fast-tracked for treatment. The PCT’s nomination is in the Care of Veterans category. Christopher Long, Chief Executive of Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust, and himself an ex-army Infantry Officer, said: “Some illnesses, particularly mental health problems, may not develop or show themselves until some time after a service man or woman has left the armed forces. As many health professionals have little or no knowledge of life in the forces and encounter only very small numbers of patients with this type of background, there is a real risk that physical and mental health problems caused directly or indirectly by military service may be missed or misdiagnosed.

“Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust has always been committed to recognising the selflessness of those who have risked their health and indeed their lives for their country. One way of doing this was to introduce our accelerated access policy, thereby ensuring that younger veterans’ conditions which are related to military service in particular are addressed and treatment offered as quickly as possible.

“We are delighted to have been short-listed for these awards, and I feel it is a fitting reflection of the just how dedicated Hull’s health professionals are to helping this particular group of people.”

The Humber Traumatic Stress Service run by Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust has been nominated in the Innovation in Service Development and Care of Veterans categories. David Snowdon, Chief Executive of Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, explains, “We are thrilled to be have short-listed for these awards which demonstrates the excellent work that is being done for ex-military personnel.”

Humber’s specialist service accepts direct referrals for ex-military personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr Jennie Ormerod, Clinical Psychologist, Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, explains, “Our service offers specialist assessment and treatment for military veterans. Until last year it was the only trauma service in the UK with a contract specifically recognising work with veterans and it has been used as a model for a national veterans project.

“There has been a significant increase in referrals to the service over the past couple of years indicating an increasing recognition and demand for the work being done by the service. We know that, as a result of the service, veterans have been able to maintain their relationships and stop drinking. It has also prevented them from harming themselves and enabled them to find ways to cope.”