BMA Q and A: mental healthcare in the armed forces

BMA armed forces committee chair Glynn Evans answers your questions What is the BMA doing about mental healthcare in the armed forces? The association is pressing for greater provision in mental healthcare for military personnel during the latest reading of the Armed Forces Bill. The bill, which has been debated during its report stage in the Lords in recent weeks, has included discussion of two amendments drafted by the BMA and tabled by Labour party defence spokesperson Lord Touhig. The five-yearly Armed Forces Bill provides the legal basis for the UK’s armed forces and its system of military law.   What are the proposed amendments to the bill? The BMA supports amendment 10: ‘armed forces covenant report on mental health parity of esteem’. This would ensure that there is a specific obligation on the Government to provide parity of esteem between mental and physical health. We believe this is essential for the armed forces and the wider public. The BMA also supports amendment nine: ‘special provision for sufferers of mental health conditions’. This will ensure that in the event of a diagnosis of a mental health condition caused by service in the armed forces, an immediate lump-sum payment would be made to the individual. The BMA has concerns about the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. At present, this enables service personnel to claim compensation for any illness or injury caused as a result of their service, but the BMA is concern...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news