Concerns over coronavirus shutdown of support for forces veterans

A Fylde coast-based Government service that helps troubled forces veterans has come under fire for cutting back aid amid the coronavirus crisis.
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Veterans UK, which has offices in Norcross, has been blasted after it closed its telephone hotline after sending staff to work from home meaning there is no-one desperate veterans can talk to about issues.

It advises ex-forces members to email any questions and for veterans who need “urgent emotional support” to phone the Samaritans. But around 126,000 of Britain’s 2.4 million veterans are in their 90s and many elderly people may not have access to email.

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Former Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden, who was chairman of the All Party Parliamentary veterans group, said that this is not acceptable and people who have served the country are being let down in this hour of need.

Former Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden is concerned about reduced help for forces veteransFormer Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden is concerned about reduced help for forces veterans
Former Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden is concerned about reduced help for forces veterans

He said: “Anything to do with appeals or applications for war pensions or from war widows has been suspended, this strikes me as being really poor.

“If you think about the groups who are most likely to need support in the coming weeks it is the younger ones ex-Afghanistan, maybe struggling to get jobs or furloughed, they’re just being told to talk to the Samaritans.

"The others are veterans in their 80s and 90s, not all at home with families, and they’re expected to do everything by email. The Royal British Legion has expressed concern about this. We all understand the need to self isolate but surely there could be one or two people who could be on duty on the phone to help these people.”

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Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Ministers are letting veterans down by closing this vital helpline at a time when thousands of former service personnel will need extra support.

“The country has been awed by the fantastic efforts of Captain Tom, but for many elderly veterans this will be a time of huge uncertainty and anxiety.”

A spokesman for Veterans UK, which is part of the Ministry of Defence, said: “Supporting veterans has never been more important” but that the organisation had to adapt its services during the outbreak."

They said that although the phone line had closed, recorded guidance was still in place and “while we have temporarily asked those needing specific support to email us, our advisers will call them back that same day if urgent help is needed.”

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