Veteran charity set to publish findings

Combat Stress announced last year it would be conducting an investigation after ex troops claimed they had been refused treatment.

One was Gus Hales from Newport and played a part in forcing the investigation after going on hunger strike in the county.

The Falklands war veteran and paratrooper went on hunger strike at Audley Court last year after he was discharged by a Combat Stress member of staff who had no medical training.

Combat Stress bosses asked him to stand down due to concerns about his health and well being.

They pledge to conduct an investigation, and now they are set to release the findings and clear themselves of any wrong doing.

In the latest letter to Mr Hales, the charity's chief executive Sue Freeth said: "Our internal review involved examining the case records of a sample of individual veterans who were discharged in 2015 to ensure that they were discharged appropriately.

“We have examined both electronic and paper records and did not find any systemic issue with the discharge of veterans that were audited.

“The internal review report is now in its final drafting stage and will be received by our directors and then our trustees in May 2019.”

Mr Hales, a former sergeant, had been relying on the charity for treatment for post traumatic stress disorder.

He suddenly stopped receiving treatment, and piled pressure on the organisation when he decided to strike.

The organisation previously apologised to the former serviceman for making mistakes regarding his discharge. A public inquiry was called for, however Combat Stress has since said only the government can call for that.

A spokeswoman for Combat Stress added: "We have internally reviewed our discharge processes and found no systemic errors. We do not believe that a further inquiry is necessary."