Veterans injured in line of duty to get £5m healthcare boost, Johnny Mercer announces
VETERANS who suffered injuries or illnesses in the line of duty are to be handed a new £5million healthcare boost, Johnny Mercer has announced.
The new Veterans’ Affairs Minister said the money would support the development and trials of treatments, techniques and interventions for the wounded, injured or sick.
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He said the much-needed funding would include work on “direct skeletal Fixation” - a pioneering technique to fix prosthetics directly to the bone and give amputees greater mobility.
The money will also enable more research into how to better treat victims of blast injuries over time and how drugs can improve the long-term treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Research into traumatic brain injury and pioneering therapies to reduce scarring from injury will also be improved.
Mr Mercer said: “Our military veterans deserve the very best physical and mental healthcare money can buy."
“That’s why it is right that we invest cash in exploring how the latest innovation and technology can be used to help deliver that."
“I want to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran. That means ensuring we do all we can to help ensure better health and employment outcomes for those who have
sacrificed so much on our behalf.”
The former Army Officer, who was promoted to his new position by Boris Johnson two weeks ago, has vowed to hold the next Prime Minister to account over veterans’ welfare.
He has written an open letter to veterans and their families expressing his determination to keep fighting for improvements and delivering the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan.
“We may well find ourselves right now at a point of political uncertainty,” he said.
“But whatever the outcome of the coming weeks, I will continue to push to ensure the Government delivers on that step change in support to veterans to ensure it is felt by every
one who has served and sacrificed so much.”
Applications for the £5million fund are open until the end of August and money will be awarded soon after. Bids will be managed by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.
There are four themes - digital, data and technology - surgical techniques, bioengineering and rehabilitation - public health, pain management, sight and hearing loss - female health needs.
Organisations will receive grants or contracts to research or trial cutting-edge treatments.
The Cabinet Office said: “The funding is a recognition that science and technology is constantly evolving and that new techniques and procedures are developing at pace, therefore the cash will identify latest developments to ensure veterans’ treatment is informed by the very latest research and developments in clinical care.
“It will bring the best of British innovation to the needs of our veterans, recognising their unique health needs stemming from their service.”
According to the Royal British Legion there are an estimated 95,000 veterans of working age with a Service-related injury in receipt of compensation.
The Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts between 2001 and 2014 alone saw 22,000 servicemen and women medically discharged from the armed forces for physical or mental health reasons.
Comment by Johnny Mercer, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
We have committed to making the United Kingdom the best country in the world to be a veteran by 2028.
It is an ambition we must deliver.
And having just been appointed Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, it is my job to drive it forward and I will make myself accountable to veterans and their families for doing so.
While veteran's care has advanced significantly over the last fifteen years, I recognise that this has not been felt equally by everybody, or experienced equally across every community of the UK.
Today’s announcement of a £5m investment in veterans’ healthcare will help. And huge strides have been made to meet the increase in demand for support since 2003, with thousands of brilliant people working incredibly hard - often as volunteers - to improve life after service for our veterans.
We know that the vast majority of our veterans go on to live fulfilled and empowered lives after service. They make fantastic employees, go on to great careers, give back to their communities and hugely benefit from their time in military service.
But some veterans do face deep struggles. And in this role, I will relentlessly strive to forge a path towards ensuring that everyone who needs help knows where to turn, and is met by good-quality, evidence-based care that will improve their lives.
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs has achieved great things since it was launched by the Prime Minister in 2019.
We are already taking action to protect veterans from vexatious legal pursuit into old age.
We are delivering England’s first complete mental health care pathway for veterans and we have a set of bold commitments in the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan to improve veteran healthcare, employment, access to digital services and more.
We may well find ourselves right now at a point of political uncertainty.
But whatever the outcome of the coming weeks, I will continue to push to ensure the Government delivers on that step change in support to veterans to ensure it is felt by everyone who has served and sacrificed so much.
