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New unit to treat trauma-stricken returning troops
Come and talk, McNab urges veterans
ANDY McNab’s world was turned upside down after returning home from the first Gulf War.
The former SAS soldier became a best selling author, catapulted into the limelight with appearances on the Larry King Show and work on Hollywood film sets with the director Michael Mann.
But for many veterans life does not go back to normal for all the wrong reasons.
One in three is in need of mental health treatment following their return from service.
“This is a very personal issue for me,” he said. “Two men I served with committed suicide and one is serving life after shooting his girlfriend. Mental health problems affect everyone, either directly or indirectly, and these men didn’t get help. I really want to encourage veterans to come forward and talk about what they’ve been through.”
Mr McNab, whose latest book Seven Troop explores the men he served with in the SAS, was speaking at the launch of a new NHS service assessing and treating HM Forces’ veterans living in London with mental health problems relating to their service.
Commissioned by Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, the Veteran Service is provided free of charge in the Traumatic Stress Clinic in Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia.
A team of medical professionals tackle depression, anxiety-related conditions, alcohol and drug misuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and management of behavioural problems, including anger and violence.
Graham Fawcett, a clinical psychologist who works there, said: “The therapies we provide at the clinic have proven success rates and we want to continue to work in partnership with the veterans’ charities and support groups that are out there to help ex-forces personnel get better.”
Five other NHS mental health trusts – in South Staffordshire, Cardiff, County Durham, Cornwall and Scotland – provide similar services for veterans outside London.
For more information ex-forces personnel in London can call 020 7530 3666 in confidence for more information or visit: www.candi.nhs.uk/ veterans
Tom Foot
Greening of children’s hospital
AMBITIOUS plans to open a state-of-the-art children’s treatment centre in Great Ormond Street Hospital will be one of the greenest projects in the country.
The new Mittal Children’s Medical Centre, which will mean 20 per cent more patients can be treated at the famous children’s hospital, will provide all of its own energy and aims to be carbon-neutral.
It includes heating and power units that will be able to run on sustainable biofuels.
Bill McGill, Great Ormond Street’s director of redevelopment, said: “We believe this is as green as it is possible.”
The work is being carried out in two phases including the replacement of the
current cardiac wing, which was severely damaged by a fire. Works are expected to be completed by 2016.
Chief executive Dr Jane Collins said: “Inconvenient, cramped and outdated wards with little space to accommodate modern equipment will be replaced with new facilities where parents can sleep alongside their child in comfort.”
The project is funded through private donations including £15million from Mittal, the giant steel company. |
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