Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment for Services Veterans
Call for Evidence
Announcement of Committee Inquiry: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment for Services Veterans
The Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee has agreed to undertake an inquiry into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment for Services Veterans. We are inviting individuals, groups and organisations with an interest or expertise in this area to submit written evidence.
Background
Services for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) amongst services veterans have been the subject of discussion in Wales and the rest of the UK for a number of years. Concern has been expressed about the adequacy of Government action to address the needs of the growing numbers of veterans experiencing PTSD and of the suitability of NHS services in particular.
The inquiry will look into the provision of services for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and associated disorders for services veterans in Wales.
Terms of Reference
We have agreed the following terms of reference for our inquiry:
To consider the adequacy and suitability of services in Wales for veterans of the armed services, including the Territorial Army, suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and in particular:
the arrangements for raising awareness of PTSD and for signposting treatment and support services for veterans, their families and carers;
the identification of veterans suffering from PTSD and the collection of data on the prevalence of the condition and the need for services to address it;
the adequacy and suitability of treatment and support services for veterans suffering from PTSD and their geographical spread across Wales, including NHS provision in primary and secondary care and specialist provision for ex-services personnel in the NHS and the third sector;
the adequacy and suitability of treatment and support services to address additional needs of veterans with PTSD such as depression and alcohol and drug misuse;
the funding arrangements for services providing care and treatment to veterans with PTSD including partnership arrangements with, for example, the Ministry of Defence and the voluntary sector.
Questions
The Committee welcomes all views and opinions on the subject however we have prepared a list of questions for your consideration to assist you in formulating your response. These can be found in Annexe B.
How to Submit Written Evidence
You should submit written evidence to the Clerk of the Committee, to arrive no later than Friday 3 September 2010. If possible, please supply an electronic version in MS Word or Rich Text format, either by e mail to health.wellbeing.localgovt.comm@wales.gov.uk or on a disk.
If this is not possible, please send your written submission to:
Clerk, Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee, National Assembly for Wales, CF99 1NA.
Further guidance on the submission of evidence is attached.
We would be grateful if you could share this request with other interested parties or, where appropriate, any of your member organisations.
Membership of the Committee:
Lorraine Barrett AM, Andrew R T Davies AM, Veronica German AM, Irene James AM, Ann Jones AM, Helen Mary Jones AM, Dai Lloyd AM, Val Lloyd AM, Darren Millar AM (Chair)
23 July 2010
Annex A - Advice on Submitting Evidence
The Committee may call on those who have submitted written evidence to supplement it in oral evidence to the Committee. Please indicate in your response whether you would be prepared to give evidence in person.
Witnesses should be aware that once written evidence has been submitted to the Committee it is treated as the property of the Committee. Written evidence will be published on the Committee’s website, and extracts may subsequently be included in the report.
The Assembly will not publish information which it considers to be personal data. If you are providing any information, other than personal data, which you feel is not suitable for public disclosure, please stipulate which parts should not be published. You should provide a reasoned argument to support this. The National Assembly will take this into account when publishing information or responding to requests for information.
In the event of a request for information submitted under UK legislation, it may be necessary to disclose the information that you provide. This may include information which has previously been removed by the National Assembly for publication purposes.
Annex B - Questions for Consideration
1. In your view, how effective are the arrangements for raising awareness of PTSD? How effective is the signposting of treatment and support services for veterans, their families and carers?
2. In your view, how effective and robust are the methods for identifying: veterans suffering from PTSD; the collection of data on the prevalence of the condition; and the need for services to address it?
3. What is your view on the adequacy and suitability of treatment and support services for veterans suffering from PTSD (including providing access in all areas of Wales; NHS provision in primary and secondary care; and specialist provision for ex-services personnel in the NHS and the third sector)?
4. What is your view on the adequacy and suitability of treatment and support services to address additional needs of veterans with PTSD such as depression and alcohol and drug misuse?
5. What is your view on the funding arrangements for services providing care and treatment to veterans with PTSD including partnership arrangements with, for example, the Ministry of Defence and the voluntary sector?
6. If you could draw the Committee’s attention to one problem, what would it be? What would be your solution?
