Joining forces to support our veterans
Dear SVCN partners, stakeholders and members of the veterans community,
On 1 March 2022, there was a Parliamentary Debate focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of veterans in Scotland. The SVCN was commended for the creation and publication of the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Plan to improve mental health and wellbeing services for veterans.
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing welcomed the Principles and Recommendations set out in the Action Plan and advised that its implementation will be progressed via a Scottish Government-led Implementation Board, chaired by Dr Charles Winstanley.
The Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing has therefore advised that the work of the SVCN will transition to the Implementation Board and, as such, the SVCN will be decommissioned from Thursday 30 June 2022.
Should you wish to contact the Implementation Board, contact details will be displayed on this page as soon as they are made available.
We would like to place on record our heartfelt thanks to everybody connected to the Network for your commitment to developing the SVCN and especially the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Plan, as well as helping us to take forward work on the service mapping of veterans’ health and care services, improving data and information processes and developing education and training.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Plan, as well as the resources previously available through the SVCN website, can be accessed from the NHS National Services Scotland website:
If you are a member of the veterans’ community and require any immediate healthcare support, you can contact the following national organisations:
Veterans First Point: V1P.Scotland@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Combat Stress: helpline@combatstress.org.uk
Alternatively, you can contact your local NHS Armed Forces and Veterans Champion:
| NHS Board | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| NHS Ayrshire & Arran | Dr Euan McKenzie | Euan.McKenzie@aapct.scot.nhs.uk |
| NHS Borders | Andrew Carter | Andrew.carter@borders.scot.nhs.uk |
| NHS Dumfries & Galloway | Richard Smith | richard.smith5@nhs.scot |
| NHS Fife | Mairi Mckinley | Mairi.Mckinley@nhs.scot |
| NHS Forth Valley | Dr Andrew Murray | andrew.murray1@nhs.scot |
| NHS Grampian | Alasdair Pattinson | alasdair.pattinson@nhs.scotscot |
| NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde | Julie Murray | julie.murray@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk |
| NHS Highland | Jo McBain | jo.mcbain2@nhs.scot |
| NHS Lanarkshire | Craig Cunningham | Craig.Cunningham@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk |
| NHS Lothian | Tracey Gillies | Tracey.Gillies@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk |
| NHS Orkney | Dr Mark Henry | mark.henry@nhs.scot |
| NHS Shetland | Brian Chittick | brian.chittick@nhs.scot |
| NHS Tayside | Peter Stonebridge | medicaldirector.tayside@nhs.scot |
| NHS Western Isles | Lachlan Macpherson | lachlan.macpherson@nhs.scot |