Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of fireworks on veterans (a) with PTSD and (b) experiencing other war-related mental health trauma.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of fireworks on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or any other mental health condition.

Recognising the particular challenges that veterans face, NHS England has commissioned several services for veterans, including Op COURAGE, the bespoke integrated veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service. The services provide a fully integrated mental health care pathway, including personalised care plans, to ensure veterans can access support and treatment both in and out of hours.

Op COURAGE is available across England. Individuals can contact the service to make an appointment or ask someone to do this on their behalf. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/