Ministry of Defence
Central Government
Noted
The Ministry of Defence expresses condolences and states that Mr Day received significant medical input, including mental healthcare, occupational health, and primary medical care. While open to improvements, they don't feel a need to change MOD policies in response to the report, given existing mental health services. (AI summary)
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Dear Ms Mutch,
I have recently been made aware of the Regulation 28 Report regarding the former Sergeant James Colin Day that you sent to the then Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps on 7 February 2024. First and foremost, and most importantly, my thoughts and sympathy go out to Mr Day’s family. Every person lost early is a tragedy, and their loss is felt across the whole Armed Forces and Veterans community.
I would like to acknowledge that your Regulation 28 Report was received under a previous government, who I would have expected to respond. I personally take my responsibility to support members of our Armed Forces community very seriously and recognise that the delay in responding is unhelpful.
In the specific case of Mr Day, I am concerned that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) were not considered an Interested Person at the inquest. This means your Regulation 28 Report may be based on an incomplete understanding of Mr Day’s medical history and the support that was provided to him by the MOD. I have asked the Head of the Defence Inquests Unit (DIU) to provide you separately with the details of the support Mr Day did receive.
The wellbeing of our Service community is of paramount importance and there are already a range of measures in place to support those with mental health issues. Between June 2018, when Mr Day first presented with mental health symptoms, to when he was medically discharged in October 2020, Mr Day received significant and consistent medical input from the Defence Medical Services (DMS), including mental healthcare, occupational health, and primary medical care. While I am aware a diagnosis of PTSD was made when Mr Day was an inpatient at a civilian hospital in Germany, it is important to note that the DMS could not confirm this diagnosis. I understand that the primary focus for the DMS was to address Mr Day’s alcohol
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE PERSONAL
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE PERSONAL
dependency which was an essential requirement before clinicians could seek to make any assessment of PTSD. Following Mr Day’s discharge from the Army in late 2020, continuity of care was provided by the Defence Transition Services and Veterans Welfare Services, together with the NHS.
Considering this, and the suite of mental health services that do exist for the Armed Forces community, I do not feel there is an immediate need to change MOD policies in response to your Regulation 28 Report. However, that is not to assume everything is perfect, and I am committed to improving the overall level of support given to both Service Personnel and Veterans. I can assure you, and Mr Day’s family, that if there are any significant improvements that can be identified, steps will be taken to implement them.
Despite my conclusion, I thank you for raising these important questions. This type of challenge is essential to ensure that this government provides the support our Armed Forces need. As ever, my thoughts remain with Mr Day’s family and all his friends and colleagues who continue to feel his loss so acutely.
I have recently been made aware of the Regulation 28 Report regarding the former Sergeant James Colin Day that you sent to the then Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps on 7 February 2024. First and foremost, and most importantly, my thoughts and sympathy go out to Mr Day’s family. Every person lost early is a tragedy, and their loss is felt across the whole Armed Forces and Veterans community.
I would like to acknowledge that your Regulation 28 Report was received under a previous government, who I would have expected to respond. I personally take my responsibility to support members of our Armed Forces community very seriously and recognise that the delay in responding is unhelpful.
In the specific case of Mr Day, I am concerned that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) were not considered an Interested Person at the inquest. This means your Regulation 28 Report may be based on an incomplete understanding of Mr Day’s medical history and the support that was provided to him by the MOD. I have asked the Head of the Defence Inquests Unit (DIU) to provide you separately with the details of the support Mr Day did receive.
The wellbeing of our Service community is of paramount importance and there are already a range of measures in place to support those with mental health issues. Between June 2018, when Mr Day first presented with mental health symptoms, to when he was medically discharged in October 2020, Mr Day received significant and consistent medical input from the Defence Medical Services (DMS), including mental healthcare, occupational health, and primary medical care. While I am aware a diagnosis of PTSD was made when Mr Day was an inpatient at a civilian hospital in Germany, it is important to note that the DMS could not confirm this diagnosis. I understand that the primary focus for the DMS was to address Mr Day’s alcohol
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE PERSONAL
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE PERSONAL
dependency which was an essential requirement before clinicians could seek to make any assessment of PTSD. Following Mr Day’s discharge from the Army in late 2020, continuity of care was provided by the Defence Transition Services and Veterans Welfare Services, together with the NHS.
Considering this, and the suite of mental health services that do exist for the Armed Forces community, I do not feel there is an immediate need to change MOD policies in response to your Regulation 28 Report. However, that is not to assume everything is perfect, and I am committed to improving the overall level of support given to both Service Personnel and Veterans. I can assure you, and Mr Day’s family, that if there are any significant improvements that can be identified, steps will be taken to implement them.
Despite my conclusion, I thank you for raising these important questions. This type of challenge is essential to ensure that this government provides the support our Armed Forces need. As ever, my thoughts remain with Mr Day’s family and all his friends and colleagues who continue to feel his loss so acutely.