Entitled To Help?

shaz77_2

I have a relative who used to be in the army, he served in several places including Northern Ireland. Unfortunately he seen some horrendous things while he was there and got caught up in bombs etc, I have only began to realise that he has been seriously psychologically effected by all this, even though the events happened over ten years ago.

Is there any help available for this person?

lee634

Speak with The Royal British Legion

They don't just sell poppies they help many servicemen past and present.

Here are their contact details

Legionline is open 10am - 4pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. You can contact us by phone or email:
Tel: 08457 725 725 (local rate)
From overseas: +44 (0)20 7973 7200 (full rate)
Email: [EMAIL="info@britishlegion.org.uk"]info@britishlegion.org.uk[/EMAIL]

jpwhittle

There is also the Army Benevolent fund that may be able to give you some advice

Contact details are:

Army Benevolent Fund
Mountbarrow House
6-20 Elizabeth Street
London
SW1W 9RB
Tel: 0845 241 4820
Fax: 0845 241 4821
http://www.armybenfund.org/index2.html

PKC

SSAFA are their for all who have served or are serving they have an excellent website with links to help at www.ssafa.org.uk/ Good luck in finding help.

shaz77_2

Thanks to all for your help, much appreciated.

Geezer_BJ

Hello,

SSAFA are a good starting point for any help or assistance.

Also, Combat Stress are excellent - an ex services mental health charity see http://www.combatstress.org.uk/

Hope this helps

Cat695

ALL of the above......they are very helpful to any serving or ex serving

I hope all gets sorted and i hope he realises that he has a good friend!! Well done

irishmist_2

Hi
Combat Stress are excellent.
He can also see his GP and access mental health care through this route - although the NHS frequently gets a bad press for long waiting times and so, often this can be more of a myth than a reality, and NHS mental health teams are seeing more and more people with post traumatic stress difficulties, and are very aware that often these sorts of difficulties don't always emerge quickly after the events.
All the very best to your friend.

Pete268

Hi,

Don't forget that since January 2008, the right to priority treatment on the NHS has been extended to include all veterans for injuries/illnesses relating to their service in HM Forces (previously the right to priority treatment was reserved for War Pensioners only).

Details are here together with a clickable link at the bottom relating to which country in the UK the veteran lives:

http://www.veterans-uk.info/vets_issues/healtcare.htm

The person the op has posted about should make sure his GP is aware he is a veteran and entitled to priority treatment for when the GP writes to the consultant/hospital.

On a slightly different, but related topic, he may also be entitled to claim a War Pension (or gratuity depending on the level of disability) for his psychological injuries. Such as the Royal British Legion, SSAFA, or the Veterans Welfare Service should be able to help him make a claim or he can ring the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency directly on freephone 0800 169 2277.

Regards

Peter