Adrian Browne, a political reporter for BBC Wales News, reported that ex-armed forces personnel in Wales face challenges in receiving priority treatment for injuries sustained in the line of duty due to long waiting times for surgery. Even though veterans are entitled to priority treatment under the Armed Forces Covenant, Wales Veterans Commissioner Colonel James Phillips raised concerns about where they stand in a waiting list inundated with patients waiting for elective surgery for up to two years. The latest figures show that in December, the number of patients in Wales waiting longer than two years for treatment decreased by 3% to 23,621, prompting the Welsh government to be called upon for comment.
The Defence Committee is conducting an investigation into the Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the support available to servicemen, women, and their families in various aspects, including healthcare and housing. Colonel Phillips expressed to the committee the difficulties faced in providing priority treatment for service-related injuries when the National Health Service is already struggling. He highlighted the veteran community’s perception that they are undervalued and unsupported for injuries related to their service, and the challenge of prioritizing them over the wider civilian population.
Furthermore, Colonel Phillips addressed the lack of affordable and social housing for veterans in Wales, mentioning instances where some are forced to live in their cars. He advocated for veteran-specific crisis units over crisis housing filled with individuals dealing with addiction issues, stating that veterans are more accustomed to a disciplined lifestyle. The commissioner, who served in the Army for 33 years in various locations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, emphasized the need for more legal authority in his role as Wales’ first veterans commissioner appointed by the previous Conservative UK government in 2022.
Colonel Phillips stressed the necessity for “legal clout” to give him and fellow UK commissioners the ability to hold public bodies accountable and advocate more effectively on behalf of veterans. Despite having the title of commissioner, he mentioned that without legal powers, public bodies are not obligated to respond to his inquiries, highlighting the limitations in his current capacity
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