WIREDGOV

The Welsh Government is strengthening its support for veterans and serving military personnel in Wales, including unique services in the NHS and council tax relief. 

Ministers have announced the All-Wales Veterans Health and Wellbeing Service will be re-named Veterans NHS Wales to raise awareness of the special services it provides. It helps veterans access health services tailored to their specific needs, including the appointment of a veteran’s champion in every health board.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed a £100,000 funding boost this year for Veterans NHS Wales, which already receives £485,000 annual funding from the Welsh Government. The extra funding is part of £650,000 announced last week to improve access to psychological therapies for people with mental health problems, including psychological therapies for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Local Government Minister Lesley Griffiths has also confirmed her commitment to protecting eligible military personnel from the effect of the UK Government’s abolition of council tax benefit.

For the second year running the Welsh Government has maintained full entitlements for all those eligible for a council tax reduction, including serving members of the armed forces and ex-service personnel and their families, and has vowed to continue to do so until at least 2016-17.

Of the 326 councils in England, just 45 have maintained full entitlements in 2014-15, compared to all local authorities in Wales.

Speaking ahead of Armed Forces Day this weekend, Professor Drakeford said:

“We recognise the immense contribution veterans and current members of the Armed Forces make to our country. This is why we are continuing to invest in the Veterans NHS Wales service, which is unique in the UK, offering specialist care and support for their very specific needs.

“We anticipate demand from veterans will increase in the coming years from veterans who have experienced recent conflict and due to redundancies in the military. After feedback from the likes of the Royal British Legion we have re-named the service to raise awareness of what it offers and make sure those who need it know where to turn.”

Lesley Griffiths said:

“In Wales there are estimated to be more than 400,000 members of the Armed Forces community. We owe our military personnel, veterans and their families a significant debt of gratitude. They make huge sacrifices on our behalf both here and overseas, which help ensure our freedom and safety. As a government we remain committed to our ongoing support for them.”

Last year Welsh Ministers launched an updated package of support for serving personnel, veterans, and their families. This included a £2m investment in housing for armed forces service leavers; financial assistance for leavers wishing to enter education; and an automatic entitlement for Blue Badges for seriously injured personnel

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Armed forces and veterans