New NHS 111 service launches across Hampshire to give dedicated help to veterans and their families

The Veterans High Intensity Service, which launches today, means that former service personnel or their loved ones will be able to call and get help within eight hours.

This initial help will come from a veteran peer support worker from Southsea-based military charitable organisation All Call Signs.

Those in need will then get support from an NHS mental health expert, or they will be assisted into other services and get help for any needs they may face around housing, employment or other social issues.

They will also be supported by a veteran liaison support worker from veterans’ charity Walking With The Wounded right up until the time of discharge.

The pilot service, developed and run by Solent NHS Trust, is available for veterans across Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Kent, with the intention of rolling it out nationally in the future.

David Noyes, chief operating officer at Solent NHS Trust and retired naval officer, said: ‘Solent NHS Trust’s links with both serving and retired military personnel and their families is really important to us and we take our obligations through the Armed Forces Covenant extremely seriously.

‘We already have a strong track record working with veterans across the south of England and our expert team is looking forward to getting this new service up and running alongside our partners across the South East.

‘The NHS has listened to the calls for an outstanding level of timely, responsive and specialist care and we are incredibly proud of the partnership working which will make this service possible.’

The new service came about following the Trauma in Mind report, a year-long study commissioned by Solent NHS Trust and NHS England into the experience of veterans and their families who require intensive healthcare services.

It comes as The News’ campaign Veterans in Crisis has for two years demanded better support for veterans.

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Thomas Storey from Southsea was in the army for nearly 18 years and served in Afghanistan as a medic in 2008.

The 37-year-old has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression and has previously tried to die by suicide.

Speaking to The News, Thomas said: ‘During my time I have seen things that no human should see but like most people in the army I didn't talk about it.

‘It wasn’t until I due to go on tour in Iraq in 2016 and there was several problems with my visa, which meant I had said goodbye to my family several times and was missing my twin brother’s wedding, that I just snapped and everything I had seen came flooding back into my brain.

‘I was outside my parent’s house in my car with a handful of pills and a bottle of water.

‘That was when I broke down and finally opened up and got help from a psychiatrist and actually talked about what I had seen to deal with it and stop it from going round in my brain.’

Thomas has been living at home with his parents for the past few months and was medically discharged from the army a few days ago after some delays due to Covid-19.

He said: ‘Being ripped out of that support network with my unit was hard but I have made friends with some veterans down here especially Matt Boyle who has been absolutely amazing.

‘I don’t want people in the military now to wait as long to get help as I did and I think this 111 service is such a good idea and will help people who need it.

‘If people leave the army of their own volition and then need that help in the future this is a good way for them to get it.

‘I think it has come at a good time as Covid has meant people are stuck in their houses and bouncing off the walls.

‘It means there is time to sit and over think and go through doors in your mind that you haven’t before or ones you don’t want to go through again.

‘I am passionate about helping veterans in the future and I think this service will do that.’

Walking With The Wounded operations director, Fergus Williams, added: ‘Although the majority of former military men and women transition successfully to civilian life, a small but significant minority struggle. Those who need support can find their care pathway complex.

‘The new High Intensity Service it will enable ex-military personnel and their families to navigate NHS veterans’ services with ease.

‘This is a fantastic initiative which will make a significant difference to those that served.’

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