The Ministry of Defence has paid out more than £1 million per month over the last 17 years to settle claims from troops who have suffered with PTSD, the department has revealed.
Since 2007, payments have been made to almost 5,000 people who fought in campaigns across the globe, including Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The payouts have been made to compensate members of the military who, after returning home from duty, have suffered mentally as a consequence of their military service.
The total bill of £277 million, paid out over the last 17 years, would have been enough to swell the ranks of the army by paying for an extra 650 soldiers’ wages.
While the claims from service personnel reached a peak after the conflict in Afghanistan, there were still 250 fresh claims paid out last year to soldiers who have suffered from PTSD.
Experts in the condition say sufferers can be afflicted by nightmares and flashbacks, can feel an increased sense of vigilance and, in extreme cases, they imagine they have returned to the battlefield after experiencing specific triggers.
The vast majority of the payments were made under the MoD’s Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). The 4,880 settlements paid out totalled £111.8 million, at an average of around £23,000 each.
But the total cost is even higher as some of the settlements made under AFCS in more serious cases also include annual income payments, costing the MoD another £142.1million.
A further 110 claims have also been settled by the courts in cases where service personnel believed they were entitled to greater compensation.
Under this route, a total of £22.9million has been paid out, meaning the average settlement cost the MoD almost £210,000 each.
In PTSD cases where the MoD is found to have been negligent, this is often attributed to a failure to provide adequate protection or training for the person, or a failure to help with sufficient counselling on their return from action.
One soldier’s claim from their time in Iraq left the MoD with a £2.4 million bill. There was also a £1.2 million payout to someone who suffered PTSD following an incident in an aircraft and a £1million payout in a case relating to service in the Arctic.
Alan Friggieri, the director of strategy and communication at Combat Stress, said: “Military-related post-traumatic stress disorder is a severe mental health condition that can have a huge impact, and compensation should reflect that.
“We know that sadly the rates of probable PTSD amongst serving personnel have risen, and that these compensation figures are also a clear indication that better preventative measures, and better treatment and assessment pathways within the military, are still needed.”
An MoD spokesmsn said: “This Government will always stand up for those who serve and have served to keep our nation safe.
“We are committed to improving life for serving personnel and veterans, and to ensuring that the Armed Forces is a safe and supportive environment. Mental health support is available whenever and wherever needed, for serving personnel and veterans.
“Veterans have access to specialist medical care from the NHS and every part of the UK now has a dedicated mental health service for veterans.”
