Ex-British Army chief accuses defence chiefs of breaking the law by failing battle-scarred troops with PTSD
General Lord Richard Dannatt has penned an open letter branding their failure to support troops a breach of the Armed Forces Covenant
A FORMER British Army chief has claimed the government is breaking the law by failing to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
General Lord Richard Dannatt has penned an open letter branding their failure to support troops a breach of the Armed Forces Covenant, which promises to treat Our Boys fairly.
He has compared what soldiers went through in Iraq and Afghanistan with veterans who developed shell shock in 1917, according to the .
General Lord Dannatt, head of the Army from 2003 to 2009, said: "We owe a duty of care to all our serving and veteran armed forces personnel.
“That is what the Armed Forces Covenant is about – and since 2011 it is part of the Armed Force Act.
“No one wants to start taking legal action against the Government, that is not the way to get high morale, but we cannot penny pinch or seek ‘efficiencies’ where the lives of our people are at stake. Let us get our priorities right.”
According to the newspaper, 83,000 of Britain’s full-time troops - more than 10 pen cent - who served in the past 25 years are likely to be afflicted by physical or mental injury.
Lord Dannatt has hit out at the government for under-funding programmes aimed at treating troops' needs.
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He said: “The current policy for serving armed forces personnel suffering an acute mental health attack is they should go to their nearest NHS A&E department or ring the Combat Stress Helpline.
“I’ve been contacted several times by serving or recently discharged personnel who believe this policy is wrong. Lives of young people have been lost, possibly as many as 21 in 2012. There should be a dedicated MoD helpline for those in need.
“I make no criticism of the Combat Stress Helpline but I question whether serving armed forces personnel should have to resort to a charity helpline.
“In 1917 they didn’t understand shell shock but in 2017 we do understand PTSD.”
Under the Armed Forces Covenant, veterans must get priority NHS treatment for injuries suffered in the line of duty.