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Priority care plan for veterans | |
(about 10 hours later) | |
All armed forces personnel who have health problems as a result of service to their country are to receive priority treatment from the NHS. | All armed forces personnel who have health problems as a result of service to their country are to receive priority treatment from the NHS. |
The Scottish Government said the move followed recent concern over the treatment of veterans. | The Scottish Government said the move followed recent concern over the treatment of veterans. |
At present, war veterans are only entitled to priority NHS treatment if they receive a war pension. | At present, war veterans are only entitled to priority NHS treatment if they receive a war pension. |
Now all veterans with a condition associated with military service will get the same access as war pensioners. | Now all veterans with a condition associated with military service will get the same access as war pensioners. |
The UK Government is set to announce similar measures for veterans to be given fast-track treatment on the NHS, and for special centres to be set up for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. | |
Scotland's Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "Our service men and women do an outstanding job and it is only right that those who have health problems as a result of serving their country in the armed forces should get priority access to treatment. | |
"The Scottish Government fully supports these new measures and plans to implement these in a way that the benefits are fully realised." | |
Post-traumatic stress | |
Allocation of such treatment would still be finally decided by the clinician in charge of an individual's case, based on their judgement of the clinical need. | Allocation of such treatment would still be finally decided by the clinician in charge of an individual's case, based on their judgement of the clinical need. |
Priority treatment is currently only available to those who have been pensioned out of the forces with a specific injury. | |
The change would allow former servicemen and women who suffer physical and mental problems from their time in service to come forward and claim priority treatment. |
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