This information applies to England, Wales and Scotland
This information applies to:
If you have health problems which were caused by your service in the Armed Forces, there is help available for you.
You can use this information to find out about the help available to you, depending on your situation. You can also find out about other organisations that may be able to help you further.
If you have health problems that were caused by your service in the Armed Forces, you should be able to get priority treatment from the National Health Service (NHS).
This means that you will be treated before someone else with the same level of medical need. If there is someone with a greater medical need they will receive treatment before you. You should tell your GP or hospital you are a veteran before you tell them anything else. They will decide what priority treatment you need.
You can get help from the NHS by going to see your GP. You can also contact NHS Direct for advice.
You can find more information about NHS Direct in England on their website at: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
You can find more information about NHS Direct in Wales on their website at: www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk.
Or you can call them on 0845 4647.
In Scotland, you can also contact NHS 24 for advice.
You can find more information about NHS 24 on their website at: www.nhs24.com.
Or you can call them on 08454 24 24 24.
You might also be able to get help from the Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). MAP provides general medical examinations for veterans of:
MAP also provides mental health examinations for:
After an examination, MAP can provide you with a diagnosis and recommendations for treatment.
You can also find more information about MAP from the Ministry of Defence website at: www.mod.uk.
Your GP can refer you to MAP. You can also contact them directly:
Medical Assessment Programme
The Baird Medical Centre
Gassiot House
St Thomas' Hospital
Lambeth Palace Road
London
SE1 7EH
Telephone: 0800 169 5401
Email: map@gstt.nhs.uk.
You can find more information about finding and registering with a GP on Adviceguide.
If you are having mental health problems because of what happened to you during your time in the Armed Forces, it is important to get help. You can get help from:
If you are concerned about your mental health after active service, you might first want to speak to your GP. Your GP may then refer you for further specialist help.
In England and Wales, you can also contact NHS Direct for advice.
In Scotland, you can also contact NHS 24 for advice.
If you are a veteran suffering from a condition like anxiety, depression, alcohol or drug misuse or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you can get help from a specialist clinic.
A specialist clinic can give you a mental health assessment and treatment in a community-based clinic. The clinics are located in Stafford, Camden and Islington in London, Cardiff, Newcastle, St Austell in Cornwall and Scotland. The treatment is free of charge and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will pay for your travel costs to your nearest clinic.
You can get treatment from a specialist clinic by getting a referral from your GP.
You can also contact the specialist clinics directly. You can find more information about the clinics, and their contact details, online at: www.veterans-uk.info.
If you are a veteran who has been on operational service since 1982 you can also get help through the Medical Assessment Programme (MAP).
MAP provides mental health examinations for all veterans with operational service since 1982. After an examination, MAP can provide you with a diagnosis and recommendations for treatment.
You can also find more information about MAP from the Ministry of Defence website at: www.mod.uk.
Your GP can refer you to MAP. You can also contact them directly.
Combat Stress is a charity which provides help and medical care for veterans with mental health problems. They can offer free long term specialist help and support for veterans with mental health problems.
Combat Stress have national community outreach services. These are delivered by nurses, welfare officers and mental health practitioners. Combat Stress also have residential centres where veterans can stay for a short time and receive specialist treatment. These centres are in Shropshire, Surrey and Ayrshire.
You can find more information about Combat Stress on their website at: www.combatstress.org.uk.
You can find out more about Combat Stress, and the help and support they offer by phoning them. You can find the number of your local support desk through their website at: www.combatstress.org.uk.
Telephone head office: 01372 841 600
Email: contactus@combatstress.org.uk.
This information applies to serving personnel and veterans of the Territorial Army, Royal Naval Reserve (RNR), the Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR).
If you have served as a Reservist in the Armed Forces, and you have mental health problems that may be linked to your service, you may be able to get help from the Reserves' Mental Health Programme (RMHP).
The RMHP is available for anyone who has done active service as a reservist since 1 January 2003. This includes both regular and volunteer reservists.
You can find more information on the RMHP on the army website at: www.army.mod.uk.
You can get help from the RMHP by asking your GP to refer you. You can also contact them directly by phoning 0800 032 658.
You can find more information about finding and registering with a GP on Adviceguide.
If you have been so seriously injured that you have had to leave the armed forces, you will qualify for help from the welfare section of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA).
They can help with your finances, finding employment and somewhere to live, and other needs you might have.
You can apply for this help by sending form Welfare 11 to the SPVA welfare service.
You can find more information about this, and download form Welfare 11 on the SPVA website at: www.veterans-uk.info.
You should post, email or fax the form to:
SPVA Welfare Support Office
Room 6124
Norcross
Blackpool
Lancashire
FY5 3WP
Telphone: 01253 333641
E-mail:spva-vwsnorcross@mod.uk
Fax: 01253 332235
If you have health problems because of being in the Armed Forces before 6 April 2005, you can claim a war disablement pension under the war pension scheme.
You can also claim under the war pension scheme if you were a dependant of someone who died because of their service in the Armed Forces before 6 April 2005.
War Pension Scheme benefits can be paid on top of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75) or Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS 05) pension.
For more information about the AFPS 75 or AFPS 05, see Pension and compensation schemes for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
If you get a war pension, you may also be entitled to extra allowances or get help with medical treatment and care.
For more information about what you can claim how to apply, see the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency website at: www.veterans-uk.info.
For more information on financial support available to Armed Forces veterans, serving members of the Armed Forces and their families, see Benefits and concessions for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
If you have health problems because of being in the Armed Forces from 6 April 2005 onwards, you may be able to claim financial help from the Armed Forces.
If you get compensation in the form of a single lump sum payment you will receive this even if you remain in the Armed Forces. Regular monthly compensation payments will only be paid to veterans.
For more information about the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, see Benefits for people injured in the armed forces in Benefits for people who are sick or disabled.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) also have a leaflet about the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and how to claim. You can find this on the MOD website at: www.mod.uk.
You may also be able to claim compensation for injuries that happened during your active service. In England and Wales, for more information about compensation and personal injury, see Personal injuries in England and Wales.
You may also be able to claim compensation for injuries that happened during your active service. In Scotland, for more information about compensation and personal injury, see Personal injuries in Scotland.
If you need everyday help, or help for things like adaptations to your home, you may get this from your local authority or the welfare service of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.
In England, you can find out more about the help available to you through your local authority on the Directgov website at: www.direct.gov.uk.
In Wales, you can find out more about the help available to you through your local authority by visiting their website. You can find a list of local authorities in Wales, and links to their websites by visiting the Welsh Assembly Government's website at:wales.gov.uk.
In England, Wales and Scotland, for more information about the services your local authority may offer, and how to access these services, see Community care.
You can find out more information about the help available through the welfare service of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency by contacting them:
Helpline: 0800 169 22 77
Website: www.veterans-uk.info.
If you have lost a limb, use of a limb or an eye you can contact the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association (BLESMA) for help.
BLESMA provide help and support such as counselling, advice and grants to veterans.
You can find more information about BLESMA by contacting them:
British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association
185-187 High Road
Chadwell Heath
Romford
Essex
RM6 6NA
Telephone: 0208 590 1124
Fax: 020 8599 2932
Email: headquarters@blesma.org
Website: www.blesma.org.
For more education information, see Help with training and qualifications for people leaving the Armed Forces and veterans.
For more financial information, see Benefits and concessions for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
For more housing information, see Housing options for people leaving the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
For more pensions information, see Pension and compensation schemes for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
For more information about health, see our Health section.
NHS Direct are available to provide health advice and information for people in England and Wales 24 hours a day, every day.
In England and Wales, you can also contact NHS Direct for advice.
You can find more information about NHS Direct in England on their website at: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
You can find more information about NHS Direct in Wales on their website at: www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk.
Or you can call them on 0845 4647.
NHS24 are available to provide health advice and information for people in Scotland 24 hours a day, every day.
In Scotland, you can also contact NHS 24 for advice.
You can find more information about NHS 24 on their website at: www.nhs24.com.
Or you can call them on 08454 24 24 24.
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