Myfanwy Davies, Plaid's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Llanelli and local Plaid AM, Helen Mary Jones, have raised concerns about support for service men and women in dealing with a drug and alcohol problems once they leave the Army.
Last week in the House of Commons (22/02), the Armed Forces Minister, announced that in 2008 and 2009 over a thousand soldiers had been discharged as a result of positive drug tests.Today (04/03), following a request from Myfanwy, Elfyn Llwyd, the leader of the Plaid Parliamentary group submitted questions to the Minister asking what assistance was offered to these soldiers with a known drug habit once they had been discharged and what other help was available to them to help them adapt to civilian life.
Myfanwy said: “We are very worried about these figures because high levels of addiction are reported among former soldiers. It appears that for some, addiction problems may start when they are still in the Army and faced with the strain of a difficult and dangerous job with much less time between tours of duty that was recently the case.
The Army has a responsibility towards its soldiers while they are serving, but they also need support as they adapt to the difficulties of civilian life. How much more difficult must this transition be for a former soldier when he or she has a drugs problem? I am very pleased that my colleague Elfyn Llwyd was able to ask the Minister these important questions. Ex-soldiers and their families deserve our support.”
Helen Mary said: “Plaid in Westminster has worked very hard to get support for our former soldiers. These figures mean that we need to be pressing for the Army to take more responsibility for providing help with drug problems to former soldiers in civilian life”.
Elfyn Llwyd, said: “It is all very well for the Minister to say that the Army does not tolerate drug use but we need to know what assistance is offered to the soldiers who test positive for drugs when they are discharged. I believe that drug abuse is a growing problem within the Forces and particularly among former soldiers. I’m afraid this problem may continue to grow and so I look forward to hearing what the Minister intends to do to deal with this very serious problem.”
Showing posts with label social care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social care. Show all posts
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Helen Mary and Myfanwy slam fake consulation on council’s plan for Llanelli older people
Following a packed meeting at Caemaen Residential Homes last night, Helen Mary Jones AM and Plaid Westminster candidate Myfanwy Davies, have condemned the way in which the consultation has been conducted by officers and demanded that Pat Jones, the executive member in charge of social care take responsibility for her decision and the conduct of the consultation.
Last week the Llanelli Star reported on council plans to close Caemaen and St Pauls’ residential homes in Llanelli. Responding to this news, Myfanwy and Helen Mary sought and received a reassurance from Bruce McLearnon, Carmarthen’s Director of Social Services who claimed in a letter, that all options were open and that no decision had yet been made on closing the homes.
Nonetheless, yesterday evening Bruce McLearnon supported by Sheila Porter as Director of Integrated Services, affirmed that his preferred plan was for the closure of Caemaen and the development of support services at home known as ‘extra care’.
Throughout the meeting, the Director also emphasised the need to cut costs as a primary motivator for the plan. Residents and families at the packed meeting were vigorously opposed to closure with residents making a unanimous show of hands in support of staying at Caemaen.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones said:
“Myfanwy and I had been assured that all options were open. It is clear that they are not insofar as Carmarthen Council is concerned and it is also clear that these decisions are being made for financial reasons. Yes, there is less money available and some of those MPs who voted to bail out the banks need to look carefully at their consciences now, but Carmarthen Council still finds funds for showcase projects and for its own publicity.”
“It is unacceptable that officials have sought to mislead families and residents by suggesting that Caemaen contravenes care standards by not having en-suite facilities. That is not the case. During the meeting, officials sought to suggest their plans were in some way intended to protect older people’s dignity. Those residents present made their views known by a unanimous show of hands, how much dignity does it afford any of us that their wished are denied?”
Myfanwy added:
“After receiving assurances from Mr McLearnon, Helen Mary and I went to the meeting with open minds. It is now clear that Carmarthen Council’s mind is already made up. Indeed when residents and families asked whether their opposition had made any difference at all to the Director’s view, he replied that it had not. That in itself is shocking proof of the need for Burry Port Labour Councillor Pat Jones, the lead on Social Care to stand up and take political responsibility for her decision and the conduct of her officers.”
“In general, I would support plans that keep people at home and independent where that are properly supported but there are sadly few examples of these plans working. We heard last night how residents in Caemaen had not been able to stay at home with existing home care support and had in some cases suffered serious neglect within home care. It is just not acceptable that older people should be moved against their will”.
Myfanwy and Helen Mary have pledged to support an action group that will fight these closure plans.
Last week the Llanelli Star reported on council plans to close Caemaen and St Pauls’ residential homes in Llanelli. Responding to this news, Myfanwy and Helen Mary sought and received a reassurance from Bruce McLearnon, Carmarthen’s Director of Social Services who claimed in a letter, that all options were open and that no decision had yet been made on closing the homes.
Nonetheless, yesterday evening Bruce McLearnon supported by Sheila Porter as Director of Integrated Services, affirmed that his preferred plan was for the closure of Caemaen and the development of support services at home known as ‘extra care’.
Throughout the meeting, the Director also emphasised the need to cut costs as a primary motivator for the plan. Residents and families at the packed meeting were vigorously opposed to closure with residents making a unanimous show of hands in support of staying at Caemaen.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones said:
“Myfanwy and I had been assured that all options were open. It is clear that they are not insofar as Carmarthen Council is concerned and it is also clear that these decisions are being made for financial reasons. Yes, there is less money available and some of those MPs who voted to bail out the banks need to look carefully at their consciences now, but Carmarthen Council still finds funds for showcase projects and for its own publicity.”
“It is unacceptable that officials have sought to mislead families and residents by suggesting that Caemaen contravenes care standards by not having en-suite facilities. That is not the case. During the meeting, officials sought to suggest their plans were in some way intended to protect older people’s dignity. Those residents present made their views known by a unanimous show of hands, how much dignity does it afford any of us that their wished are denied?”
Myfanwy added:
“After receiving assurances from Mr McLearnon, Helen Mary and I went to the meeting with open minds. It is now clear that Carmarthen Council’s mind is already made up. Indeed when residents and families asked whether their opposition had made any difference at all to the Director’s view, he replied that it had not. That in itself is shocking proof of the need for Burry Port Labour Councillor Pat Jones, the lead on Social Care to stand up and take political responsibility for her decision and the conduct of her officers.”
“In general, I would support plans that keep people at home and independent where that are properly supported but there are sadly few examples of these plans working. We heard last night how residents in Caemaen had not been able to stay at home with existing home care support and had in some cases suffered serious neglect within home care. It is just not acceptable that older people should be moved against their will”.
Myfanwy and Helen Mary have pledged to support an action group that will fight these closure plans.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Elfyn Llwyd MP will meet with British Legion Officers in Llanelli to discuss support for servicepeople
Dr. Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s parliamentary candidate for Llanelli, has invited Elfyn Llwyd MP for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy and leader of Plaid’s Parliamentary Party to meet with representatives of the Royal Britsh Legion in Llanelli on Friday 6th March.
The meeting will take place at 2pm in room 4 in the Town Hall. Aerona Stupe, the regional director of the Royal British Legion is expected to be present, along with the chair and officers of the Llanelli branch.
Mr. Llwyd has recently raised concerns about the support provided to service people during and after their time in the forces.
Following a number of cases of ex-servicemen convicted of criminal offences in Wales, Mr. Llwyd tried to obtain figures on the number of ex-service people in prison and received an unsatisfactory reply. He then contacted the National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO) to conduct a survey of its members. Evidence unearthed by the survey indicates that thousands of former armed services personnel who served either in the Gulf or Afghanistan have been convicted of criminal offences and sentenced to a term of imprisonment following discharge from the army*. The results have caused real concern as they suggest that as many as 8,500 former soldiers are currently in custody in the UK - almost 10% of the prison population for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - with over 7000 of those in custody in England and Wales. The case histories show that the majority of ex-soldiers suffered at some stage or another from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that very few had received any counselling or support at any time after their discharge from the Army.
Elfyn Llwyd who has previously campaigned on Gulf War Syndrome, succeeded in obtaining a debate on support for service people during and after service. As a result of the Westminster Hall debate on 21st of October 2008 , extra psychologists have been sent out to Afghanistan and Iraq and the Government are looking into ways to care for veterans once they return home.
Mr Llwyd said:
"Having come across several incidents where members of the armed forces were committing offences which really were a cry for help, I tabled a parliamentary question which gave a somewhat innocuous answer. I wasn't happy with that because I have witnessed ex-servicemen being sentenced for serious assaults in courts in North Wales and these offences were occurring with worrying regularity.
If this is a matter of resources, then that will not wash**. At a time when serving soldiers must make do with inferior kit, failure to act on the problem will be seen as further evidence that the Government has breached the covenant with the armed services in the most serious way.
Speaking from her office in Llanelli on Tuesday Myfanwy Davies said:
“It is deeply worrying that at a time when the armed forces are recruiting very actively from our communities, they have not been offering the most basic support needed by young men and women who have undertaken this difficult, dangerous and often traumatic task. If proper treatment had been available for these disturbed servicemen, I am convinced that 100s if not 1000s would not have offended. The government is letting them and their families down very badly indeed.
“Elfyn’s work in pursuing this issue and obtaining more psychological support has drawn wide acclaim and I am very pleased that he is coming to Llanelli to meet with representatives of the British Legion.”
The meeting will take place at 2pm in room 4 in the Town Hall. Aerona Stupe, the regional director of the Royal British Legion is expected to be present, along with the chair and officers of the Llanelli branch.
Mr. Llwyd has recently raised concerns about the support provided to service people during and after their time in the forces.
Following a number of cases of ex-servicemen convicted of criminal offences in Wales, Mr. Llwyd tried to obtain figures on the number of ex-service people in prison and received an unsatisfactory reply. He then contacted the National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO) to conduct a survey of its members. Evidence unearthed by the survey indicates that thousands of former armed services personnel who served either in the Gulf or Afghanistan have been convicted of criminal offences and sentenced to a term of imprisonment following discharge from the army*. The results have caused real concern as they suggest that as many as 8,500 former soldiers are currently in custody in the UK - almost 10% of the prison population for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - with over 7000 of those in custody in England and Wales. The case histories show that the majority of ex-soldiers suffered at some stage or another from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that very few had received any counselling or support at any time after their discharge from the Army.
Elfyn Llwyd who has previously campaigned on Gulf War Syndrome, succeeded in obtaining a debate on support for service people during and after service. As a result of the Westminster Hall debate on 21st of October 2008 , extra psychologists have been sent out to Afghanistan and Iraq and the Government are looking into ways to care for veterans once they return home.
Mr Llwyd said:
"Having come across several incidents where members of the armed forces were committing offences which really were a cry for help, I tabled a parliamentary question which gave a somewhat innocuous answer. I wasn't happy with that because I have witnessed ex-servicemen being sentenced for serious assaults in courts in North Wales and these offences were occurring with worrying regularity.
If this is a matter of resources, then that will not wash**. At a time when serving soldiers must make do with inferior kit, failure to act on the problem will be seen as further evidence that the Government has breached the covenant with the armed services in the most serious way.
Speaking from her office in Llanelli on Tuesday Myfanwy Davies said:
“It is deeply worrying that at a time when the armed forces are recruiting very actively from our communities, they have not been offering the most basic support needed by young men and women who have undertaken this difficult, dangerous and often traumatic task. If proper treatment had been available for these disturbed servicemen, I am convinced that 100s if not 1000s would not have offended. The government is letting them and their families down very badly indeed.
“Elfyn’s work in pursuing this issue and obtaining more psychological support has drawn wide acclaim and I am very pleased that he is coming to Llanelli to meet with representatives of the British Legion.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)