Turning soon to close hospitals into Vetera's centres

[Kelly d]

Our local hospital is on the NHS list of closures with the new Conserv-Lib Parliament. I was asked to take part in a petition and ideas for the hospital. I suggested turning it into a Veteran's Centre.

The response is positive so far. I am following it closely in our newspaper and Facebook.

I would volunteer in a heart-beat for our Vets!

[1938 Observer]

Re: Turning soon to close hospitals into Vetera's centres

Veterans definitely need specialised facilities for their ongoing rehabilitation and treatment...............this is what is happening in the USA at the moment.....I remember reading a year or two ago about the criticical review on Walter Reed hospital......it appears a well overdue facility is now being built.
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Shooting practise and prosthetics part of veterans' healing

Washington correspondent Kim Landers, ABC
July 15, 2010, 3:41 pm


The violence and troop casualties in Afghanistan are likely to mount as United States and other foreign troops fan out across insurgent strongholds in the south.

Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington is where many of the seriously injured combat troops are treated.

It is a little unexpected to find a firing range inside a hospital, let alone one treating US troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre, a firearms simulator is part of the therapy being used by some troops.

Roger Lemacks is the health care administrator for the amputee program.

He says the firearms simulator gives wounded warriors the confidence to handle their weapon again, a requirement of the US military.

And for those who do not return to duty, they can hone their skills so perhaps they can go hunting once they are out of hospital.

Almost 40,000 US troops have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Of those, 14,000 have been treated at Walter Reed.

The hospital has just over 200 beds, but up to 600 troops are living on the post at any one time as they continue to get treatment.

Army specialist Matthew Katka has been getting treatment at Walter Reed since November.

Specialist Katka says he was on patrol in the Patika province in Afghanistan in July last year when his unit was ambushed.

"I got shot in the head, the bullet just came right underneath the helmet and took off the back part of my skull," he said.

"I just remember getting hit. 'Wow that didn't feel good at all. I think I got hit. We're getting shot at'," he said.

Apart from his gunshot wound, the 21-year-old lost some of his peripheral vision and could not talk.

He hopes to finish his treatment for his traumatic brain injury soon and plans to leave the army and go to university.

Walter Reed is now receiving more wounded troops from Afghanistan than Iraq.

Army Sergeant Andrew Peden says he was airlifted to the hospital in March.

"Routine dismounted patrol, IED, below knee amputation," he said.

Four months later the 28-year-old is walking with a new prosthetic.

"Balance and walking has been the hardest... [I get] sore or tired," he said.

Back to duty

Walter Reed has treated more than 1,000 amputees. Of that group 200 have returned to active duty - 48 in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Roger Lemacks says staff use sophisticated prosthetics and sports equipment to help with rehabilitation.

"The leg technology, it allows us to keep the knee bent slightly, [it's] sand resistant," he said.

Walter Reed is also treating troops with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A 2008 study by the Rand Corporation found almost one in five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are suffering from PTSD or depression.

Sergeant Orazio Castellana is one of them.

The eight-year military veteran has done two tours of Iraq as a driver and gunner.

He says it took him a long time to seek help.

"At first I was in denial, I didn't want to admit it. [I was] very irritable. They knew I wasn't in a good mood anymore," he said.

Sergeant Castello has been getting specialised care at Walter Reed and says he is not as grouchy and withdrawn as he used to be.

He says sometimes just talking to his battle buddies helps.

"We sometimes sit on the phone. To us the fight is never done until we finish it. If I could go today I would go today," he said.

Three years ago Walter Reed was at the centre of a scandal when it was revealed that severely wounded combat soldiers were living in squalor and had been ill-treated.

The hospital will close in just over 400 days and be replaced with a new facility on the outskirts of Washington.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/austral...erans-healing/

[Kelly d]

Re: Turning soon to close hospitals into Vetera's centres

You are very clever and ty for this. I have read many articles about Post War Syndrome. My oldest boy was never the same after serving two tours in Iraq. I believe all veterans need to be rehabilitated both physically and mentally.

[sandyc]

Re: Turning soon to close hospitals into Vetera's centres

There are some excellent facilities in the UK for our returning forces. There may not be as many as there should be but from what I have seen on TV they look to be doing a great job.
As to closing a local hospital we have been fighting cuts here for years with some limited success. The NHS in England is not the same as in Scotland (devolved responsibility here) but the changes just announced about giving the local doctors control over budgets etc may make a difference.
Sandy

[1938 Observer]

Re: Turning soon to close hospitals into Veteran's centres

Here are some details of a specialised centre in the UK.

HEDLEY COURT....The Help for Heroes Rehabilitation Complex.

On Friday 4th June 2010 , the sun shone for what has to be the most momentous day in Help for Heroes’ history – the opening of the H4H Rehabilitation Complex at Headley Court.





From 9.30 am guests gathered in the marquee, set up in the stunning grounds behind the Officer’s Mess, where they enjoyed tea and coffee whilst waiting for the day’s events to begin.

Just before 11am some of the guests were ushered to outside the H4H complex to await the arrival of His Royal Highness, Prince William of Wales. Sadly, space constraints meant that only 50 out of the 250 were able to be physically be there but the rest of the guests were able to watch the opening via a live video feed, provided by British Forces Broadcasting Service, back in the marquee


With the press and guests in place, Prince William arrived taking his place alongside Bryn Parry, co-founder of H4H and the Commanding Officer of Headley Court, Colonel Jerry Tuck.

Bryn spoke first – welcoming the Prince (to read Bryn’s speech click here).

The Commanding Officer Col Tuck then said a few words before handing over to Prince William who spoke of his pride in his fellow Servicemen, and the members of the British Public who have supported H4H, saying: “Always supportive of its men in uniform, this country has been elevated by Help for Heroes to a state realisation and proactive support for our military which has made me very, very proud to be British and a member of our armed forces.” To read the rest of Prince William’s speech...........................


To view the photographs/speeches just go to the link.......


http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/head...urt_build.html


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Prince William has praised the courage of the Armed Forces during a visit to the Headley Court rehabilitation centre.

[1938 Observer]

Re: Turning soon to close hospitals into Veteran's centres

Sandy mentioned the NHS in Scotland.................here is where you may check it out........NHS (Scotland) Scotland's health on the Web.



http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/

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MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR VETERANS IN SCOTLAND
This letter is to inform NHS Boards of new arrangements that have been in place since 1 April 2009 with Combat Stress, the Ex-services Mental Welfare Society, to provide specialist mental health services at Hollybush House in Ayr for Veterans resident in Scotland.
The arrangements replace the former war pensions based system to ensure all Veterans assessed as requiring these services have access irrespective of their war pension status.

http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2009_45.pdf

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Prince Charles praises Hollybush House on visit to Ayrshire

Jun 11 2010 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

PRINCE Charles received a royal welcome from the people of Ayrshire as he met with war veterans at Dumfries House.

The Prince was in Cumnock to greet those who have suffered from combat stress, and meet the council employees who are backing the cause as their official charity.

Combat Stress, who have the Prince as a patron, have been nominated as charity of choice by East Ayrshire Council.

And he came to Cumnock to show his gratitude for the work being done, reserving special praise for the charity’s base at Hollybush.

Now he wants Ayrshire’s work to be the beacon for the rest of the UK.

The Prince said: “I must express my warmest thanks for the wonderful decision to nominate Combat Stress as your chosen charity – it will make a huge difference to the work that they do.

“Thank goodness, now, that people are much more aware of combat stress – what we’re calling the enemy within.

“I remember the Falklands War and even then, people did not appreciate the full scale of post traumatic stress.

“A lot of people aren’t affected, but some are and in a terrible way.

“I am immensely proud of the work being done at Hollybush House and we owe it to those who come back from serving to ensure that their future is a more reasonable one.”

East Ayrshire Provost Stephanie Young said: “Hollybush House is the most wonderful, special place.

“It is not an institution, it is a home and East Ayrshire Council is delighted to be raising awareness for such a tremendous cause as Combat Stress.”

Trevor Royal, trustee for Combat Stress, added: “What is happening here in Ayrshire is, I believe, quite unique.

“Both councils of East and South Ayrshire are working together in aid of this cause and that must be applauded.

“You are an example to the rest of the country.”

http://www.ayrshirepost.net/2010/06/...2545-26614839/