Practices in Scotland are being encouraged to sign up to a new scheme to provide support for the health care needs of military veterans.

The Scottish government said a pilot project had been successful. The project, similar to one in England, will provide training materials for practices along with clinical case studies. Scotland called on practices to take part as the Royal College of GPs raised concerns about the pressure practices will face from the country’s new mental health strategy. The veterans’ project, The General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans Recognition Scheme, was partly developed by GP Dr Scott Jamieson, a former member of the armed forces, whose practice in Kirriemuir has been part of the pilot project.

Dr Jamieson said: “As a Veteran myself I know first-hand some of the challenges that veterans and forces families can face. I want to encourage other GPs to get involved with the scheme which can make a real difference. It’s great to have helped develop and pilot this programme to ensure that the care we deliver is considerate to some of the unique challenges our Forces’ communities face.”

Scottish veterans’ minister Graeme Dey said: “This is an important step forward in providing more support and I encourage GP surgeries to find out more about this scheme. The pilot has already had a significant impact in helping veterans and armed forces families, and that will only increase as more GPs sign up.”

The project was launched as the RCGP raised concerns that a promise of 1,000 extra mental health specialists for practices would not be achieved. Its deputy chair Dr Catriona Morton warned the Government was setting “unrealistic expectations” for the public.

Referring to Government documents on delivering its mental health plans, Dr Morton said: “GPs are overwhelmingly the providers of mental health medical care in the community, caring for people with stress or distress, and almost all those with mild or moderate mental illness, and many with severe and enduring problems too. GP practices are for many the first port of call in a crisis. While the prevalence of mental health conditions is rising, the number of whole time equivalent GPs is falling, and GPs are working well over their limits, and we are not satisfied that these publications recognise nor adequately address this.”