A new service to improve medical support for Armed Forces veterans is to be rolled out in the Highlands from next month.
Health chiefs have revealed that a scheme called “Veterans First Point (V1P)” is due to be trialled over the next 15 months.
The “one-stop-shop” will feature a team of ex-servicemen and womenwho will act as support workers, helping veterans and directing them to the medical treatment they require.
It will also improve access to psychological help through set clinics and drop-in services and activities.
The team will be recruited on a phased basis and will be co-located within the Inverness branch of Poppyscotland, which runs the Scottish Poppy Appeal.
Gary Gray, head of welfare services at Poppyscotland, said: “Poppyscotland is delighted to be working in partnership with NHS Highland and Veterans First Point Scotland on this pilot service.
“We believe it will improve access to psychological support for members of our Armed Forces community in the north of Scotland and will be a welcome enhancement to the range of advice, information and support services currently offered at our Inverness welfare centre.”
In 2008, the Scottish Government advised health boards that veterans should receive priority access to NHS care if a condition was likely to be related to their time in the military.
The following year, a Veterans First Point service was set- up in Lothian, working to implement a ‘one-stop shop’ approach for veterans, their carers and families.
In 2013, NHS Lothian received funding to develop and spread that model across Scotland.
The results of the Highland trial will be collated by academics at Queen Margaret’s University.
The plans will be discussed by members of NHS Highland’s board at a meeting next week.
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that NHS Highland and Robert Gordon University had joined forces on a new pharmacy academic research centre in Inverness.
Lecturers from RGU’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences have worked with colleagues in the Highland capital to create the Highland Pharmacy Education and Research Centre.
It is a new venture for RGU and NHS Highland and has been established to support the provision of long-term clinical placements for a new postgraduate course at the university entitled “MSc in Clinical Pharmacy and Service Development”.