An open letter to Mr Hammond MP Hemingway said that some things must be experienced to be understood. The Veterans Party say that no amount of words will ever explain. That is the way combat is. If you have been there you understand, if you have not, no amount of explanation will work. Unless you have tasted it and smelled it and been it, you will never understand what combat is. Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP 16th August 2013 Ministry of Defence 5th Floor, Zone A Main BuildingWhitehall London, SW1A 2HB (See Distribution below) Dear Mr Hammond Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Associated Suicides of Veterans I am writing to you on behalf of The Veterans Party which has been established to provide British military veterans a voice, and to lobby government, ensuring it discharges its duty and responsibilities towards veterans. Sadly many veterans are continuing to experience poor and second rate treatment from the government and others in authority. The Veterans Party, senior military leaders and charities associated with the military believe the United Kingdom is facing a ‘Ticking Time-Bomb’ of ex-servicemen and women who are suffering, or will suffer in the future life-changing mental disorders. Disorders gained from the service to their country following intense conflicts such as Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Gulf War 1 and 2 and of course the terrible impact yet to come of the ten years plus of war in Afghanistan. Veterans have had the courage and devotion of duty to support their country therefore they must surly be supported in their hour of need by the government. Courage: The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger with self-possession, confidence and resolution. Devotion: Ardent attachment or affection, as to a person or cause; faithfulness, loyalty. It appears both Government and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) are reluctant to even acknowledge that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the ever growing number of suicides associated with veterans are linked. The Veterans Party, and many others, strongly believe that such suicides are directly linked to PTSD. The Veterans Party support the call for a programme to be urgently established that will provide assistance to those suffering from the effects of fighting a war for their country. It appears the government continually fail to understand the needs of veterans and the impact of psychological injuries long after the guns have fallen silent. Veterans have given the sacrifice and have suffered the terror of conflict, they are owed the assistance that must be provided by the government. Terror: Intense, overpowering fear. The Veterans Party strongly believe that the growing number of suicides in the veteran community is a part of the growing problem of PTSD and that action must be taken now to halt this trend. Gathering the data to help identify the growing number of these unnecessary and terrible deaths would be the first step to help diagnose and treat many who have fallen through the net. The British government, unlike its American counterpart fails to record the suicide rate among ex-soldiers. The Veterans Party wonder why the Ministry of Defence (MoD) appear to be so strongly against gathering such data, surely it is not to save funding ? The BBC Panorama programme has shown that such data can be easily and quickly established. The Veterans Party would suggest that identifying the reasons behind the trend is important but halting the trend is far more urgent. The MoD are quick to publish figures about the suicide rate in serving personnel but to get nearer the truth in these statistics a comparison should be made against suicides who have not experienced combat. Comparing suicide rates with civilians is misleading as the comparison should be with equivalent groups of young fit achievers as found in the services. The Government give the impression that they are content to give the problem of PTSD to the charity organisations on an add hock basis. The Veterans Party believe the government have a social responsibility towards the ongoing health of veterans and they should not be forced to rely on charity but should be looking towards the government which they have served for support. We would ask the government about the promises made within the Armed Forces Military Covenant. We hear many fine words but very little action. The Prime Minister has been quoted as making the following remark: “These people know all about duty - they’ve lived it. Now we as a country must do our duty by them.” The Veterans Party therefore would like to see the government do “It’s duty by them!” and install a support programme to go further towards overcoming some of the fears and suffering of veterans. The Veterans Party are of the view that the governments arrangements to help those suffering is plainly not enough. Action is required immediately to reduce the number of suicides of veterans and serving personnel. The Veterans Party understand that the government have announced the following measures to give some assistance to veterans, but clearly not enough to put an end to the growing number of suicides: Only £1.8 million a year for the NHS which, as we understand it, this funding is not used specifically by the NHS for those suffering with PTSD as the money is not ring-fenced. We also understand that this money has been announced under another funding project. The Combat Stress help line and The Big White Wall we agree is a small step in the right direction but clearly not enough by a long way. Clearly these announcements are not enough to halt the trends, The Veterans Party suggest the following steps be taken immediately; 1. Prior to release from the services personnel undergo a detailed psychiatric assessment. 2. A full and complete medical history to accompany the service personnel to civilian medical services. 3. On release follow-up procedures must be established through the local GP. 4. Better training for GP’s, consultants and health care professionals to diagnose and treat PTSD and associated mental health problems. 5. Special trained psychiatric nurses familiar with the diagnoses and treatment of PTSD to be established in every mental health trust in the country. 6. The assessment of veterans for PTSD who are undergoing sentences in HM prisons and a treatment programme established, along with assistance on release. 7. Specialty treatment centres established to treat those suffering with PTSD. Admission to be given to those suffering with the effects of self-medication. Such centres to be staffed with trained and capable staff. 8. A programme to assist the growing number of homeless veterans. 9. Respite centres established in the United Kingdom for families and carers, allowing them to have a break from the years of caring. 9. The appointment of a cabinet minister responsible for the welfare of ex-service personnel. This post should be outside the MoD and in the Cabinet Office. Many veterans have spoken of betrayal, and are angry and bitter towards those in authority, they feel let down in their hour of need. Now is the time to put these wrongs right. Betrayal: Expose (one’s country a group or a person) by traitorously giving information to an enemy. Large numbers of british service personnel have returned home with either physical or emotional wounds that cannot be healed. They must deal with problems every day that most people cannot even understand. Even their GP’s and health care professionals have difficulty in understanding their suffering, let us never forget the sacrifice they continue to give on a daily basis. Sacrifice: The forfeiture of something highly valued. An idea, object, or friendship, for the sake of someone or something considered to have a greater value. Many civilians, including members of parliament will never understand the impact and life changing effect upon veterans and their families who suffer with post traumatic stress disorder. Suffering for many years after picking up pieces of their friends following a culvert explosion in NI, or those who fought hand to hand in the dark with bayonets and trenching tools in the hills outside Port Stanley, or those suffering from what can only be called Gulf War Syndrome. Hemingway said that some things must be experienced to be understood. The Veterans Party say that no amount of words will ever explain. That is the way combat is. If you have been there you understand, if you have not, no amount of explanation will work. Unless you have tasted it and smelled it and been it, you will never understand what combat is. The MoD can produce as many statistics as they like. War is abhorrent and the mental scars left on these young people fighting it is unimaginable, as it is for those who have been suffering for many years without help. The lack of support from the government must now end and help must be given immediately to all veterans. The Military Covenant has been held up by government as evidence of their undying support for the services. The military covenant promises armed forces personnel fair treatment in return for their sacrifices for the nation. Government must now start to produce some of the loudly promised benefits. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this extremely important matter, and we do hope you are able to answer our letter personally rather than just allowing your communications department to script a few placatory and conciliatory paragraphs. You will notice that we have copied a number of other political party’s, media outlets and correspondents. The Veterans Party will publish this letter and any reply received. Yours sincerely Tony Clatworthy Communications Director The Veterans Party Distribution: (Electronic copies) Rt Hon David Cameron MP Rt Hon Mr Nick Clegg MP Rt Hon Mr Jeremy Hunt MP (Secretary of State for Health) Rt Hon Robathan MP (Minister of State Defence) Rt Hon Francois MP (Minister of State Defence) Dr Andrew Murrison MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)) Rt Hon Edward Miliband MP (Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition) Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Health) Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Defence) Jon Cruddas MP (Policy Review Coordinator) Mr Angus Robertson MP (Shadow SNP Spokesperson Defence) Rt Hon Mr Jeffery M. Donaldson MP ( Shadow DUP Spokesperson Defence) Mr Jim Shannon MP ( Shadow DUP Spokesperson Health) Dr Alasdair MP (Shadow SDLP Spokesperson (Health)) Mr Hywel Williams (Shadow PC Spokesperson (Health)) Mr Elfyn Liwyd MP (Shadow PC Spokesperson (Defence)) The Times The Telegraph The Daily Mail The Daily Express The Guardian The Independent Mirror newspapers Andrew Neil Jane Garvey Peter Alan Victoria Derbyshire Jeremy Paxman Kirsty Wark Gavin Eslar Emily Maitlis Allergra Stratton David Grossman Jamie Angus Jo Coburn Nick Robinson Michael Jermey Dermot Murnaghan
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 20:50:02 +0000
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