Hansard

The armed forces class a veteran as anyone who has given one day of what is called reckonable service. That may be because once someone has made the decision to sign up and serve in the military, they have made a profound and lasting commitment that goes beyond days, months and years and is much like joining a new family.

The transition that a person undergoes when they leave that family for a future on civvy street can prove to be hard at times, as Mark Griffin and Alex Johnstone touched on in their contributions. Many former servicemen and servicewomen describe the difficulty of finding their place in society without the shared sense of purpose and close bonds of friendship that they previously relied on.

The transition can be more difficult for those who bear the physical or emotional scars of war—especially those who lose a limb and face a lifelong struggle towards rehabilitation. The military covenant recognises that society has a moral obligation to members of the armed forces for their service. By giving up their civil liberties and placing their lives in danger, our veterans make themselves worthy of the utmost respect and the highest possible standards of treatment and care.

That is why I am pleased to use the debate to draw attention to the efforts of the people who work to rehabilitate military amputees—in particular, the pioneering work of the southeast mobility and rehabilitation technology centre, which is based in the grounds of the Astley Ainslie hospital in my constituency. The SMART centre employs more than 70 professionals and is responsible for the on-going care, rehabilitation and support of a quarter of all of Scotland’s military amputees. Thanks to Scottish Government investment and the leadership that a dedicated veterans minister can provide, the facility will become the centrepiece of a new national approach to amputee care and will provide, which has never happened before, a fully comprehensive rehabilitation service. The centre will have the capacity to fit and repair the next generation of high-technology prosthetic limbs and will offer training and support to patients on how to live with their disabilities. The head of the service, Mr David Gow, has described that advance as a step change in the delivery of amputee care.

In April 2012, I lodged a motion in Parliament congratulating the Daily Record on its investigation that revealed that as many as one in 10 British Army soldiers is currently battling mental health issues. Many who have returned to civilian life have to cope with the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder. That is why I am pleased that military amputees at SMART will have access to extensive peer-based support with specialist psychological input from trained professionals. Work is now under way to establish that service; it is hoped that it will be fully up and running by April this year.

Presiding Officer, just as it is my honour to highlight the terrific work of such organisations, I also highlight the efforts of one particular veteran who continues to raise funds and awareness, and contributes to a number of worthwhile causes, including Edinburgh’s Royal hospital for sick children, for which he has raised more than £100,000, and for the Prestonfield and district neighbourhood workers project, which provides a range of day care services for older people in my constituency. At the age of 93, my constituent Tom Gilzean is a shining example. He can be seen with his trademark tartan trews on the High Street of our capital city, raising funds for those good causes. He is a shining example of the best virtues that any veteran could hope to display. A decorated war hero, his tireless commitment to charity and selfless dedication to helping others is an inspiration to us all, and is worthy of the highest recognition. In raising so much money for good causes, he has touched the lives of so many people. He is an example to us all and a credit to himself and the veterans community. A campaign is under way to have him awarded the freedom of the city of Edinburgh. I can think of no person more deserving of such an honour.

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