By Pam McClounie

Published at 11:25, Tuesday, 11 September 2012

A MILITARY health initiative is about to be launched at Carlisle Castle.

Eddie Martin

The event is the first of a series planned to bring together civilian and military services to develop a veterans and military health network in the north west.

NHS Cumbria is conducting a health needs assessment of ex-military personnel living in Cumbria.

This will target those veterans who have served in Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, the Gulf wars, the Iraq conflict and Afghanistan.

The findings from this assessment will enable actions to be addressed on any unmet health needs.

Eddie Martin, leader of Cumbria County Council, will attend the launch. He said: “Cumbria has one of the highest populations of military veterans, the figure being estimated at around 43,121. About 15,000 of these are under the age of 65. This is a great opportunity to bring together Cumbrian agencies for the benefit of our ex-servicemen, women and their families.”

The launch will be hosted by Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Lighten MBE of the 4th Battalion (4 Lancs) and Mike France, chairman of the North West Region Service Advisory and Pensions Committee.

It takes place in the Burma Block from 12.30pm to 3pm.

PMcClounie@cngroup.co.uk

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk