ARMED forces veterans in Winsford and Northwich look set to benefit from priority healthcare.

The Royal British Legion says that new NHS regulations will see fast-track treatment on offer for conditions related to military service.

Veterans Minister Derek Twigg has announced that GPs and Primary Care Trusts across England will be instructed to deliver on their existing obligation to provide priority treatment to war pensioners for illnesses or injuries which led to their pension.

Priority treatment will also be extended to veterans who are not in receipt of a war pension, but who suspect they have a medical condition related to their armed forces service.

Chris Simpkins, RBL director general, said: “It is impossible to say how many veterans would be affected by this change because there are many, many veterans who require treatment for conditions resulting from their service, but who don’t receive a war pension.

“This is good for them, but it’s also good for war pensioners who aren’t getting the priority treatment which they're entitled to receive.”

Research by the organisation has revealed that only 11% of war pensioners who are entitled to priority treatment are getting it under the NHS.

There are currently 170,000 war pensioners entitled to receive priority NHS treatment.

The new announcement will extend the arrangements to any of the country’s five million veterans whose conditions are suspected of being due to service.

PRIORITY CARE: Forces’ veterans look set to receive priority NHS treatment following a Government announcement.

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