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Post-traumatic Stress

Volume 454: debated on Wednesday 6 December 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the role of the Priory Group in treating serving and retired armed services personnel suffering from post traumatic stress and post traumatic stress disorder. (106998)

Only serving members of the armed forces or mobilised reservists are referred for treatment at The Priory Group facilities for mental health services. The MOD also provides its own community-based mental health facilities that undertake out-patient care to entitled personnel. In a few cases out-patient treatment is also provided by the Priory Group where a consultant states that a patient requires a short course of outpatient follow-up or continuation of therapy (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy). Upon leaving the armed forces, or on demobilisation for Reservists, it is the long established practice that responsibility for medical care passes to the NHS. The MOD has no plans to extend the role of the Priory group in its treatment of serving personnel, or to extend this to retired personnel.