17 Special (but only while needed)
Resolution submitted by the RCN Salisbury and South Wiltshire Branch
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to make renewed effort to campaign to ensure that ex-members of the armed forces, who suffer psychological problems relating to their service time, can access appropriately skilled and knowledgeable mental health services
Work led by the RCN Public Policy Committee
Congress was challenged in the debate to consider the difficulties some veterans have in accessing on going care when they have left the forces.
In June 2008 the RCN was invited to attend a stakeholder event with the Royal British Legion (RBL) to discuss the manner in which the RBL would continue campaigning for the welfare of its members. The RCN was able to articulate its support for ongoing RBL campaigns for practical help and access to appropriate treatment for psychological needs.
The RCN Defence Nurses Forum held a reception at Cavendish square at which RCN members of the armed forces were able to present the work they were undertaking in areas of conflict in caring for and treating service personnel. This showcase clearly demonstrated that service personnel need treatment not only for immediate threats to health but also longer term. A meeting with the Royal British Legion policy unit is currently being finalised to determine how the RCN may further engage with the issue of access to treatment for veterans of armed conflict.
The profiling of the work of defence nurses, and the media coverage afforded to RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter's visit to Iraq, has helped raise awareness of both acute interventions and also ongoing care and treatment issues. Public interest and concern relating to the support received by ex-service personnel is now high and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
The Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly have now engaged in a community pilot of services to promote access to treatment. In addition, the South Staffordshire foundation trust has initiated a consortium of health care providers in England to co-ordinate the provision and access to services for service personnel. Both these initiatives have taken place since the debate at Congress 2008, and we are awaiting the outcomes of their evaluation.
Work on this resolution continues, with the RCN pursuing and developing its relationships with key stakeholders to promote the cause of appropriate and timely access to psychological care and treatment.