Veterans: Rehabilitation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department are taking to ensure that there is coordination between the Ministry of Defence, NHS and specialist providers to improve care pathways for veterans with complex rehabilitation needs.
Answered by Mr Calvin Bailey
This Government is committed to ensuring Armed Forces personnel and veterans receive the highest possible standard of care.
A close partnership between Defence Medical Command (DMedC) and the NHS ensures that military and civilian healthcare services work together to provide high-quality care for Armed Forces personnel and veterans. The NHS commissions secondary care for all members of the Armed Forces community and all care for veterans. This collaboration strengthens the healthcare system by enabling Defence and its partners to work together on the improvement and future development of NHS and DMedC services.
Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for medical care, including complex rehabilitation, DMedC works alongside the NHS to ensure they have an effective transition out of service and continuity of care.
In England, Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE provide a broad range of specialist mental health, physical and wellbeing services to veterans, with similar services available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Support will also be delivered through the VALOUR programme making it easier for veterans across the UK to access the care and support they rightly deserve.
The NHS National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) is set to welcome its first patients in August. The 70-bed facility, part of the government's New Hospital Programme, is co-located with the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate. This will enable the NRC to share facilities and learning with DMRC.
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