In the week of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has this afternoon remembered and thanked all those in Wales who have served and serve now in the Armed Forces, and called on the Welsh Government to do more to improve their lives.
Speaking in the Debate on Support for the Armed Forces Community in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood spoke of the Royal British Legion’s calls for improved support for the Armed Services community in Wales and urged Ministers in Cardiff Bay to take action.
He also welcomed the UK Government’s £320 Million investment in the Armed Forces estate in Wales, including a new Reserve Company of the Royal Welsh at Wrexham’s Hightown Barracks and the retention of Brecon Barracks.
He said:
“It is almost 18 years since I first raised the need for traumatised ex-forces personnel to access mental health care and receive priority treatment, after meeting ex-service personnel with service-related mental health issues, including PTSD, at Ty Gwyn in Llandudno - then the only residential respite centre for ex-forces personnel in the UK, whose service had ranged from the Dunkirk retreat to the Falklands.
“Despite this, it was allowed to close, with no alternative provision put in place. The Welsh Government did eventually launch Veterans NHS Wales, providing Veterans living in Wales with non-residential assessment and psychological treatment for mental health problems, including PTSD. As Veterans NHS Wales have told me, they are grateful for their additional recurrent funding, which we had been calling for. I am told, however, there is a need for a peer mentor in each Local Health Board and I hope the Deputy Minister will commit to additional funding so this can be implemented.
“I led a short debate here in January 2008 supporting the Royal British Legion’s ‘Honour the Covenant’ Campaign, concluding that this must be fought until it is won– and welcomed the publication of the Armed Forces Covenant in May 2011. The Welsh Government and all Local Authorities in Wales signed the Covenant and subscribed to work with partner organisations to uphold its principles, as have Health Boards, Police and Businesses since. Last December’s UK Armed Forces Act enshrines the Armed Forces Covenant in law for the first time, to help prevent service personnel and veterans being disadvantaged when accessing essential services like healthcare, education and housing.”
Mr Isherwood also spoke of the Royal British Legion’s support for the Armed Forces Liaison Officer (AFLO) posts in Wales and their call for the Welsh Government to commit to funding these posts for the long term, “so the sector can have more certainty and the AFLOs can continue to provide the level of support currently provided to the Armed Forces Community in Wales”.
He added:
“Last year, the Legion published their Wales Manifesto, with recommendations for the Welsh Government to improve the lives of the Armed Forces community in Wales, and I call on the Welsh Government to respond to their calls on them to, for example: ensure injured veterans can consistently access chronic pain treatment, Extend Housing Priority Need, and update the ‘Veterans Substance Misuse Treatment Framework’ and deliver better support to veterans with substance abuse issues.”