War veteran health care not good enough

Mental Health care for war veterans in the UK has been condemned by a serving soldier. Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry says men and women are not getting the care they need.

Johnson Beharry blames The Government for not giving the assistance soldiers need to help with mental health care. Ex soldiers are having to wait for care on the NHS. Lance Corporal Beharry is asking The Government to provide better care for soldiers suffering from conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder and mental breakdowns. A study has shown the people serving in Iraq or Afghanistan are much more prone to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. The same study also revealed that around 4000 cases of newly diagnosed mental health conditions became apparent in 2007. This study was carried out by the Ministry of Defense. Lance Corporal Beharry , who received the VC for his actions in Iraq,spoke of his own troubles. He revealed that he has suffered from pain, mood swings and nightmares since returning from the war. He said "A lot of soldiers get discharged from the Army and have to be on the NHS for treatment. "Having experienced it as a serving soldier, what it's like being on the NHS, I feel it's ridiculous because these ex-servicemen and women would not get that treatment they really need. What's going to happen to them?" General Sir Richard Darnett who heads up the British Army said this "Ex-servicemen and women are cared for by the NHS. "They should have a priority. Government policy is that they have priority within the NHS and I should hope that the NHS managers remind themselves of that." The Defense Minister Kevan Jones also commented on the situation "We recognise mental illnesses as serious and disabling conditions but also ones that can be treated. "Our dedicated psychiatric teams based in theatre provide the very best diagnosis and treatment of psychological illnesses both during and after deployments."