The Medical Assessment Programme
(MAP)
The MAP was established in July 1993 to
examine UK Gulf veterans who were concerned that their health had
been adversely affected by service in the 1990/1991 Gulf
Conflict.
Defence Ministers have extended the role of
the MAP with time to other groups of ex-service personnel in order
that they too may benefit from the knowledge and skills developed
in assessing veterans with physical or mental health
concerns.
The MAP is a free national service to
ex-service personnel who fulfill the following criteria for
eligibility and feel they would benefit from seeing a consultant
with a military background.
· A Mental
Health Examination for ex-service personnel with operational
service since 1982 (including veterans of the Falklands
Conflict)
· A
General Medical Examination for ex-service personnel of: The
1990/1991 Gulf War; The operation in Iraq (Operation TELIC); Porton
Down Volunteer Studies and the current operations in
Afghanistan
The MAP also offers free advice and
information to individuals, families, health professionals and
interested parties about the mental health of veterans.
The MAP is located at St Thomas' Hospital,
London and currently staffed by Dr Ian Palmer a Consultant
Psychiatrist, qualified General Practitioner and Professor of
Military Psychiatry with extensive military experience and
knowledge.
The purpose of the MAP
is:
- To assess, and attempt to understand, the physical and
psychological difficulties experienced by ex-Service personnel
presenting to the service.
- To provide advice to individuals and health professionals about
the mental and physical health of veterans in their care.
- To offer advice to individuals, families, health professionals
and interested parties about the mental health of veterans
- Where possible, to provide diagnoses and management strategies
for individuals and the medical and mental health professionals
involved in their care.
- To collate anonymised statistical information as a resource for
study of this population by authorized researchers who have
obtained the appropriate ethical clearance. No information about
named individuals is given to third parties without written consent
from the individuals concerned.
Free advice
& information:
Freephone:
0800 169 5401
Phone:
020 7202 8323
Email:
map@gstt.nhs.uk
Websites: www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/home and
www.veterans-uk/info (follow
links to MAP)
Referral to
the MAP
GPs and Mental Health Professionals are
encouraged to refer patients who fulfil the eligibility criteria
and who are concerned that their physical and/or mental health may
have suffered as a result of military Service. All GPs
and patients receive a copy of the assessment report.
Please refer cases to
the following address:
Head of Medical Assessment Programme
c/o The Baird Medical Centre
Gassiot House
St Thomas’ Hospital
Lambeth Palace Road
London SE1 7EH
Fax: 020 7202 8327
Health
guide
A revised version of the “Gulf Health:
Information Guide for Health Professionals” will be published later
this year. Many of the questions raised about the MAP are common to
all groups of veterans who are eligible to attend, and the February
2005 version has been retained on the PCV (Pensions,
Compensations & Veterans) website for information purposes.
Over 4000 cases have been seen in the MAP since its
inception.
Further
information
There is now a new website bringing together
services for ex-military personnel which may be accessed at
http://www.veterans-uk.info/
Service
Pensions & Veterans Agency (SPVA)
Further
information on services for ex-military personnel may be obtained
from SPVA:
· 0800 169
2277
· http://www.veterans-uk.info/
Pilot Sites
Studies
In 2006 The Department of Health and the
Ministry of Defence sponsored six pilot sites* to examine and evaluate
how best to identify and address ex-service personnel with mental
health needs. These pilot sites will be evaluated by the
University of Sheffield in 2011 in order to inform PCTs and MHTs
about the provision of services for ex-service personnel. In
the interim, the MAP offers expert mental health assessments in
particular, for areas not yet involved in the pilot sites
| * |
Stafford; Camden & Islington;
Cardiff; Lothian; Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys and Cornwall |
Ian Palmer
Head of Medical Assessment Programme
February 2011