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answer text |
<br /><p>The Armed Forces Covenant sets a number of goals with respect to healthcare,
including that members of the Armed Forces community should enjoy the same standard
of, and access to, healthcare as received by any other UK citizen in the area where
they live. With regard to Mental Health, the Armed Forces Covenant states that veterans
should be able to access mental health professionals who have an understanding of
Armed Forces culture.</p><p>The Ministry of Defence provides primary healthcare for
all Service personnel including mobilised Reservists. The provision of veterans' healthcare,
including for those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions,
is primarily the responsibility of the National Health Service in England and the
Devolved Administrations. Veterans in England, Scotland and Wales are entitled to
priority access to secondary healthcare for conditions suspected to be due to their
service in the Armed Forces, subject to the clinical needs of others. In Northern
Ireland, the mental health needs of returning ex-Service personnel continue to be
addressed either through the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Aftercare Service,
through Combat Stress, or directly within the mainstream Primary Care and Mental Health
services.</p><p>For a summary of our approach to ensuring that our serving Armed Forces
personnel receive the very best mental healthcare provision, I refer the hon. Member
to the answer I gave on 10 September 2015 to Question 9141 to the hon. Member for
Tewkesbury (Mr Robertson). http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-09-07/9141/</p><p>For
details of the steps we have taken to ensure that veterans are provided with the support
they need, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 September 2015 to Question
9865 to the hon. Member for Inverclyde (Mr Cowan). http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-09-10/9865/</p>
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