Listen
Healthcare for veterans
23/11/2007
NHS priority treatment will extended to all armed service personnel who have developed health problems as a result of service to their country.
At present, war veterans are only entitled to priority treatment for conditions relating to service if they receive a war pension.
However, Health and Wellbeing Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced that all veterans will receive the same access as war pensioners following recent concern regarding the treatment of veterans by the NHS in Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"Our service men and women do an outstanding job and it is only right that those who have health problems as result of serving their country in the armed forces should get priority access to treatment.
"The Scottish Government fully supports these new measures and plans to implement these in a way that the benefits are fully realised."
Full guidance will be issued to NHS Scotland by early 2008. Allocation of priority treatment is a matter for the clinician in charge and is dependent on their judgement of the clinical need of the case.