A UK Government cash boost will deliver enhanced healthcare and welfare support for veterans in Lanarkshire.
Central Scotland Tory MSP Graham Simpson has “warmly welcomed” millions in funding for innovative tech projects.
The UK Government have confirmed twenty-two projects across the UK have been successful in receiving funding through the Office for Veterans Affairs' (OVA) Health Innovation Fund’, to the tune of £5 million.
In Lanarkshire, the government is providing money for a joint bid with the St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS), NHS Lanarkshire and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).
The group will look at how welfare support and technology can benefit isolated veterans in Lanarkshire, with eventual application across the UK.
Working in collaboration with Technology Enables Care (TEC), the project will focus on improved quality of life through its application.
NHS Lanarkshire has embarked on an exciting programme of utilising assistive technology across their area and this new partnership with DMWS will develop a programme to include hard-to-reach veterans within Lanarkshire.
The area has a number of geographically disparate veterans, many of whom struggle to access services due to issues including, lack of public transport, mobility issues or indeed their military service.
DMWS will be able to provide them with the support and assistance they need to remain independent and connected to their communities.
The UWS team, led by Professor Murray Leith, will evaluate DMWS and NHS Lanarkshire’s innovative approach in utilising assistive technologies in the community to better support the health care and wellbeing of veterans with complex needs.
Craig Cunningham, Armed Forces and Veterans’ Champion for NHS Lanarkshire: “I am delighted that DMWS has been successful in their application to access the Veterans’ Health Innovation Fund.
"This provides us with the opportunity to expand the range of services we are already able to offer to veterans in Lanarkshire and, in particular, to now offer them access to new technologies that will support them to manage their own health and social care when appropriate.
"These technologies will also support wider linkages for veterans across other community resources and services.
"We are confident that by expanding the range of technologies, this will positively impact on the well-being of our veteran community in Lanarkshire, and we are looking forward to evaluating the benefits which accrue such that we can shape our future service planning.”
Mr Simpson believes that the funding from the UK Government will help to harness and advance the best of British science and research.
He said: “It’s great that the UK Government have provided funding to support veterans in Lanarkshire.
“This ongoing project will not only help isolated veterans in our community but also ensure Lanarkshire develops into a base for the very best scientists and researchers in the UK.
“Working with the St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service, NHS Lanarkshire and UWS, I’m confident this funding will help tackle the physical and mental health challenges veterans face."
In anticipation of the fund’s official launch in April, DMWS is appealing to anyone with connections to Lanarkshire veterans who may benefit from the fund to get in touch.
They can be contacted on 0800 999 3697 or referrals@dmws.org.uk
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