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North Staffordshire
Royal British Legion News February 2008 |
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News
Friday 1 February 2008 |
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Royal British Legion To Help
Support Mental Health Pilot ‘Drop In Clinic’ For
Veterans |
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 The
Royal British Legion will help
support the first of a series of nation-wide NHS pilot
programmes to assist veterans with their mental health
needs on February 13th in Stafford.
Stafford Royal British Legion Club will serve as the drop-in centre for
the scheme, operated by the South Staffordshire and
Shropshire Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust
Veterans are invited to book an appointment and drop in
between 12 noon and 3:00 p.m. on Feb. 13th for a private
and confidential consultation with a specialist
veteran’s mental health therapist. These drop in clinics
will run on a twice monthly basis and appointments can
be booked by contacting Mr Bourke’s secretary on 01785
221592
Mr. Pat Bourke, the veterans mental health therapist for
the NHS Trust, said it is hoped that the familiar
surroundings of the Legion Club, combined with the
knowledgeable and sympathetic ear of an experienced
ex-Services nursing officer, will make veterans to feel
more comfortable and willing to drop in.
“If it works in Stafford, then it should work across the
country,” said Mr. Bourke, who has 22 years’ military
experience. “It’s fantastic that the two groups – the
Legion and the NHS – are working together on this.”
The pilot scheme was announced by Veterans Minister
Derek Twigg and Health Secretary Alan Johnson on
November 23rd, 2007.
The new model of mental health services will give Armed
Forces veterans access to clinicians with expertise in
veterans’ mental health, who will provide assessment and
help veterans to obtain suitable treatment.
The new model will be piloted at six sites across the UK
for two years, after which its effectiveness will be
assessed, with the aim being for the programme to
roll-out nationwide.
The Royal British Legion welcomed the scheme when it was
announced in November, along with a commitment to extend
priority treatment to veterans for conditions resulting
from their service to the Nation.
“These are both elements of the life-long duty of care
which is promised to Service personnel under the
Military Covenant, and which the Legion has been
campaigning to restore,” said Peter Hobson, spokesman
for the Stafford Branch of The Royal British Legion.
“We’re pleased to see tangible results in the form of
the pilot mental health scheme, and we’re delighted to
make our facilities available.”
The clinic will offer advice and assistance for mood and
behavioural problems, including anxiety, depression, and
post-traumatic stress disorder.
It will also act as a signpost for assistance with other
issues, such as physical complaints or assistance with
housing and employment.
Veterans are invited to make an appointment and drop by
the Legion on Feb. 13th. The Legion Club is located at
76 Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2NG.
For further information, please contact Mr. Pat Bourke,
Veterans Mental health Therapist at 01785 257888. |
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When asked
Ken Compton, County Chairman of the Royal British Legion
North Staffordshire County who has welcomed this initiative
saying that "we are always seeking new ways to help our
ex-service men and women, whose diverse needs mean we
have to encompass the need to provide aide where it is
needed most and most accessible. By using the facilities
offered by Stafford RBL Club to deliver such a service
it will hopefully bring care in to the community via the
High Street."
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Photograph and Logo
courtesy of The Veterans Agency UK and further reading
from the
Veterans Agency UK |
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County News Archive |
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