Hundreds of suicidal veterans at risk of 'slipping through the crack' amid funding fears

Sir Bernard Jenkin, vice president of armed forces charity Combat Stress, claimed up to 1,500 ex-service personnel struggling with post-traumatic stress could be at risk.

It comes as the organisation struggles to cope with a £6m drop in its income this year, following the axing of a £3m contract with NHS England to provide a residential programme for veterans and a drop in public donations.

Speaking during a debate in Westminster, Sir Bernard – who is an MP for Harwich and North Essex – said: ‘There will be veterans who slip through the cracks and some 1,500 or veterans will now be entirely dependent upon going through their GP and into the veterans service provided by the NHS.

‘There is a deep anxiety that these people will not get the treatment that they need.’

The warning came as a fresh plea was made to veterans minister, Johnny Mercer for Britain to record every suicide by former armed forces personnel.

A previous investigation by The News revealed the UK unlike other allied countries, had no such system in place and led to criticism the government was turning a ‘blind eye’ to the crisis.

Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP and Labour’s shadow defence minister, said coroners must now record this information.

Speaking after the debate in parliament, Mr Morgan said: ‘Every moment of dither and delay puts more veterans at risk. There are simple steps we can make immediately that will bring about major change.

‘I hope the government now gives this important issue the urgency it deserves. It is high time to move beyond study after study, to action after action.’

He also demanded Whitehall looked at why veterans were not always seeking mental health support, and called for improvements to the transitional support services for those leaving the forces.

Responding, Mr Mercer insisted the government was ‘committed’ to supporting veterans and said £200m was being invested over the next decade.

He told MPs the government was undertaking long-term studies to gather ‘real-time’ data on the number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans killing themselves.

The former army officer added: ‘Coroner data is something we are in conversations with the coroners’ service to do at the moment.

‘My honourable friend will understand suicide is a very, very complex and difficult issue and the that governments of all colours over the years have started from a very low point when it comes to data.

‘It is why some of the earliest funds of the Office of Veterans Affairs has gone into gathering this data that we can lead the way with evidence-based, researched-based, genuine solutions to provide outcomes to our servicemen and women.’

Speaking of Combat Stress, Mr Mercer told MPs the charity ‘had a very special place in this nation’s heart and has a very full and very important role in the future’.