"Employment history should be irrelevant" – Readers comment on call made by MP Jamie Stone for armed forces members to get special status in NHS

Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone is calling for a new law that would give veterans and members of the armed forces special status in NHS mental health spending plans.

We asked in our Facebook poll: “Do you think funding to support their mental health should be ringfenced?”

More than 300 readers took part in the online vote and 78% said yes, funds should be guaranteed and will not be spent on anything else.

This is what readers had to say:

Michael Dalby said: “How about just give it the funding it needs so no-one needs to be prioritised.”

Neil Hutchinson said: “There should be funding - coming from the MOD.”

Brian Bowden said: “Mental health issues should not come with preferences.”

Mark Baker said: “I hesitate to suggest that a lot of people in the emergency services and armed forces face unusually high level of stress on occasion.

“We expect them to put their bodies (and minds) in harms way to protect our society.

“It doesn’t seem unreasonable to provide adequate funding to help those whose mental state is harmed by that service.”

Sharon Storey said: “Your occupation social status employment history should be irrelevant. Every individual should be able to access mental Heath services and support.”