Support for Veterans

On Wednesday 13 July Sandra Osborne MP secured a parliamentary debate in Westminster Hall on 'Support for Veterans'. In her speech she outlined a range of issues but in particular concentrated on the work of the organisation Combat Stress and its Ayrshire centre, Hollybush House. She highlighted the need for increased Government support for voluntary organisations dealing with mental health issues, in particular, post traumatic stress disorder and illnesses linked to combat experience. She stressed the limitations of dealing with veterans suffering as a result of combat through the NHS alone and the funding gaps experienced by organisations like Combat Stress and Hollybush House in particular.

In her speech to Parliament Sandra said
“Thousands of British veterans still struggle with the horrific psychological effects of combat. Many of those brave veterans face a daily struggle against nightmares, flashbacks, depression and anxiety. That is the brutal legacy of combat experience. As the organisation solely dedicated to helping the veterans recover from their injuries, the society—Combat Stress—provides intensive therapy at three treatment centres. One is in Surrey, one is in Shropshire and the other is Hollybush house in Ayrshire.

Hollybush House is vital to Scottish and Irish veterans. It is the only specialist service providing for the psychologically wounded in Scotland. It provides a unique safe environment where experienced staff can use the veteran peer group to help break down the mental barriers associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions. They can engage the veterans in therapy much more quickly and much more effectively than outpatient national health service appointments can do. ”

Referring to the Hollybush House Appeal she went on
“In April 2004, Combat Stress organised an appeal under the direction of Sir Clive Fairweather to upgrade Hollybush House to meet the statutory requirements laid out in the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, which comes into effect in 2007. Fundraising for the new wing now stands at an incredible £730,000, and the appeal has been supported by almost 2,000 donors and organisations. I know that there is a great deal of local support for the appeal because I have attended several local fundraising events.

In Ayrshire we are much aware of the fine work done by Hollybush House, but the appeal has had the added advantage of placing the needs of Scottish veterans with combat-related mental health injuries firmly on the map. There is no doubt, however, that without that appeal the closure of Hollybush House was a distinct possibility. We hope that the Scottish Executive will make a contribution to the final budget of £1.7 million that is needed to secure the upgrade. We wait for a decision to be made. The upgrade is welcome, but it has been hastened by the Scottish Executive's care requirements. I believe that it is incumbent on the Scottish Executive to make a contribution. “

Many of the referrals now come from mental health professionals or primary care providers, but such referrals do not come with any funding attached… 40 per cent. of treatment is already unfunded. The Ministry of Defence appears to be saying that funding for veterans with combat-related mental health issues is a national health service issue, not an MOD one. There is no scheme in place to ensure that that NHS fills the gap. Combat Stress is doing all that it can to raise funds from the public.”

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Mr. Don Touhig replied to the debate and congratulated Sandra on raising this important issue and recognised her previous work in raising Gulf veterans’ illnesses. He acknowledged the important role that Combat Stress and Hollybush House played and accepted Sandra’s invitation to visit Hollybush House and see at first hand the facilities provided there. He also made it clear he fullly supported the modernisation plans for Hollybush so that it can deliver much needed services in the future