Report highlights fears over long term care for armed forces
19 | 12 | 2011
A new report from the Commons
Defence Committee released on the15th December praises the current
“first-class medical treatment” available for the armed forced but
also raises concerns over long term sustainability.
In particular, the committee is
concerned about the number of people who may go on to develop
severe and life-limiting, physical, mental health, alcohol or
neurological problems and the support available to them.
In addition to providing first
class medical treatment and rehabilitation both in theatre and back
in the UK, the MoD also provides other support for severely injured
personnel in their journey to health and return to duty or to
civilian life.
Members of the armed forces
returning from active service have very specific needs and often
sustain injuries rarely seen in mainstream NHS experience.
Some individuals will continue to need support long after
retirement and into old age.
The committee raised fears that the
NHS shakeup in England could affect the long term care of troops:
"We are concerned that the arrangements put in place by the MoD for
the transition of personnel may be disrupted by the future
re-organisation of the health service in England."
The report comes just weeks after
the Armed Forces Covenant was recognised in law for the first time
after the Armed Forces Bill received Royal Assent in November
2011.
The Armed Forces Covenant will set
out how the Government plans to support the Armed Forces, their
families and veterans in key areas such as healthcare, housing and
education.
There are options available for
troops coming out of the armed forces and needing additional care;
NHS continuing healthcare is a package of care arranged and funded
solely by the NHS, which can be received in hospital, nursing home
or at the individual’s home. This is often described as ‘fully
funded care’.
Lisa Morgan, Partner at Hugh James
solicitors explains further; “It’s a common misconception that NHS
continuing healthcare is only available for the elderly, when in
fact it’s open to anyone over the age of 18 needing long term care
because of their physical or mental needs.”
Lisa continues “I would encourage
families currently funding care for loved ones coming out of the
military to look into the possibility that the NHS should in fact
be covering the cost. We have dealt with many cases where the
assessment process has failed an individual and helped them to
recover paid fees while ensuring the payment of future fees, often
saving families from facing financial difficulties.”
Hugh James are the leading national
experts in recovery of wrongly paid care home fees. Our nursing
care legal specialists have successfully recovered over £20 million
for families across the UK.
Visit our Hugh James nursing care
service page
Read the
Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Part 1: Military Casualties
report in full.