North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has challenged the First Minister this week over the lack of support for veterans with both physical and mental health issues in Wales.
Questioning Carwyn Jones over Welsh Labour Government support for armed forces personnel in Wales, Mr Isherwood asked him to respond to the concerns of veterans that the necessary support and services to help them deal with their mental health issues is inadequate in Wales.
Speaking in the Chamber, he said:
“Earlier this year, at their request, I, with Andrew R.T. Davies, met a group of women veterans, all of whom have suffered injuries on service and all of whom told us they were also dealing with mental health issues as a consequence of their service.
“How do you respond to the concern they expressed to us - and I’m quoting them - that ‘with more and more veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan it’s now taking three months to get an appointment with Veterans’ NHS Wales, then three to six months to see a specialist, who can then only deal with mild to medium trauma because there are no acute services, and they’re having to travel to England for treatment for their mental health and rely on charities’?”
In his response, the First Minister side-stepped the question asked.
Mr Isherwood added: “I regret that the First Minister dodged the question on an issue that is too serious to evade.”