Guidance

VAPC Yorkshire and Humber: meeting minutes 19 February 2020

Updated 6 November 2023

Venue:

Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Yorkshire and The Humber 20 St George’s Place York YO24 1DS

Date: 19 February 2020

Attendees:

Alex Baxter (Chair)

Lt Col (Rtd) Alan Skidmore (Vice Chair)

John Topping (Secretary)

Maj (Rtd) Duncan Bell

Ms Helen Singleton

Rick Short

Jonathan Treen

Dr. Iain Burnside

Apologies:

Gary Collins

Andrew Palmer

Capt Peter Mason

Tim Cole

Alex Bentley

Lt Col Terry Reilly RA

Adrian Hunt

General items

Introductions, apolies, minutes of last meeting, matters arising.

The Chairman welcomed members to the meeting. Everyone then introduced themselves and welcomed Dr Iain Burnside to his first meeting. Iain was confirmed as a co-opted member. The Secretary give apologies, and these are noted.

Alan Skidmore was then elected as Vice Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting, which had been circulated beforehand, were discussed, confirmed and agreed.

There were no matters arising not covered in today’s Agenda.

Recruiting and membership

The following members were appointed as sub-group chairs.

• governance: Helen Singleton.

• welfare: Duncan Bell

• health: Dr Iain Burnside

• veterans agency engagement: Jonathan Treen.

Reports

Members external events; quarterly newsletter items.

Defence Transition Service. This was discussed in detail and concern with duplication of services was noted. It was agreed to invite Kate McCullough to our next meeting which will be at Cleethorpes.

Action point: secretary to contact DTS and invite Kate to our next meeting at Cleethorpes.

The Riverside at Catterick was discussed and Duncan bell provided a report on the situation there. It was agreed that the centre manager be approached to see if we could hold one of our meeting there.

Action point: chairman and Secretary to arrange visit date and timings.

Rick Short reported on his Sheffield Covenant meeting and their minutes were circulated.

Chair conference

The Chairman briefed members about various items including changes to the VAPC National Chair. A separate briefing would be circulated.

Action point: chairman to provide the Secretary with the briefing which would be circulated to all VAPC Members.

A National Chairman’s sub-group would be meeting on the Friday following this meeting. Details would be circulated as and when available.

NHS medical support

GP services and data recording update

The Secretary and Duncan Bell attended the meeting of the Yorkshire and Humberside Armed Forces Network (Y&H AFN) at the Royal Armouries, Leeds on the 4 November. The subject of GP Registration remains extant and further promotion of GP Veterans Friendly Surgeries were promoted at this meeting.

Several areas were doing a very good job with registration of veterans and their families, but it is only isolated areas that were effective in the registering of veterans. This was further highlighted at various meetings of covenant groups that the members had attended.

Action point: all members to continue to monitor the situation.

Mental health services update

No further information available.

Dr Iain Burnside’s clinical view on pensions

Iain provided the members with a comprehensive view on the present situation. He presented a number of examples of the ‘catch 22’ situation with some veterans and their application for pensions.

Update from Duncan Bell with regards to the medical board assessments and effects on veterans

The situation with medical board doctors not being able to relate to the past situations with regards to veteran’s active service issues was again highlighted on identifying PTSD.

Veterans Welfare Services now require all veterans who feel that they are suffering with PTSD must be seen by a consultant psychiatrist. This would now be referred for action to the Welfare sub-group.

Action point: welfare sub-group to report back to the next meeting if possible.

Developing collaboration in our region

Local authority

Update from members of all developments. The minutes from the local covenant groups were now being circulated as and when received.

DWP progression

The DWP are now rolling out training in the form of a veteran’s awareness course. Armed forces champions are being appointed in most local areas.

Support to veterans and early service leavers

The Defence Transition Service (DTS) had been discussed earlier but concern was still expressed by committee members as to its (current) overall effectiveness. It was felt that duplication of support was a major problem. They would be invited to our meeting were possible.

Various

VAPC centenary (19 August 2021)

The Secretary briefed members as to his skype conference call and the minutes have been circulated.

Management plan: develop strategy 2018 to 2022

It was agreed that the next meeting may be brought forward to Cleethorpes to incorporate a visit to the veterans’ facilities there and the meeting to concentrate on develop and confirm our strategy for the next 3 years. Members are still awaiting their formal appointment letters.

Veterans gateway: update and awareness

This is working quite well but you often had to drill quite a way down to obtain the required link. We are keen to support this initiative and look forward to further expansion of veteran’s space information developments.

Veterans strategy

The Chairman briefed members as to developments at the Chairman’s conference and that another meeting was taking place in 2 days’ time. A briefing sheet would be circulated by the Secretary once available.

Action point: once the Chairman had produced the brief, he would circulate it amongst members.

VWS monitoring and welfare items

Jonathan Treen had been tasked with liaising with Norcross and to contact Norman Turnbull to establish a point of contact.

Action point: Jonathan Treen.

Any other business

The Chairman advised members that hopefully a new recruiting cycle would; take place sometime shortly.

Duncan Bell highlighted that the number of ‘Ambulance Chasers’ was increasing. Discussion centred on the new legislation being introduce by Parliament to prevent this happening. Central government would progress this.

Helen Singleton suggested that an organisation chart from Norcross would be helpful

Action point: Johnathan Treen.

Next Meetings

Wednesday 17 June 2020 and Wednesday 14 October 2020.