PURVIS AND MOORE: BORDERS VETERANS MUST BENEFIT FROM PRIORITY TREATMENT SCHEME

12.00.00am GMT Wed 27th Jan 2010

Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale MSP Jeremy Purvis and Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP Michael Moore have expressed concerns that UK Government plans to extend the priority treatment services offered to veterans in England and Wales will leave Scottish veterans as the 'second class citizens' of the forces community.

UK Health Minister Mike O'Brien MP has instructed health service providers to fast-track the priority scheme, making it available as soon as possible. At present, the priority treatment scheme is only available to those veterans in Scotland suffering from injuries and illnesses that were a direct result of their military service.

Mr Moore introduced a Bill in the House of Commons recently that called on the Government to introduce a 'Veterans Covenant', which would set out a duty of care for veterans in the same way that the 'Military Covenant' does for serving personnel and their families. He has written to Mr O'Brien, seeking clarification of how the new plans will be implemented and asking what discussions he has had with Ministers in Edinburgh regarding their extension across Scotland.

Commenting, Mr Moore said:

'It is essential that Scottish Veterans are offered the same level of service as their English and Welsh counterparts. In the past, the right to priority treatment has been ignored, forgotten or disregarded by NHS service providers, as Borders veterans know to their cost.

'It would be a complete injustice if Scottish veterans became second class citizens on this issue within the UK. It is essential that this situation is clarified as quickly as possible.'

Mr Purvis added:

'The current priority service in Scotland is only offered to veterans whose conditions are likely to be related to their time in the service. If the reports are accurate and this priority scheme goes forward in England, the Scottish Government will need to swiftly revise their policy in order to ensure equality of treatment for all veterans.

'I will be writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing to guarantee that the Scottish Government will match the priority service given to veterans in England. Our service men and women put their lives on the line and dedicate themselves to service for the benefit of everyone else and they deserve nothing less than our absolute commitment to providing health services that meet their needs.'