That's all from Holyrood Live for today, Thursday 27 September 2018, and indeed for this week.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed NHS Lothian is working to fully re-open the children's ward at St John's Hospital in Livingston.

However she refused to set a target date for a return to full service.

The ward has been closed to some patients since July 2017 due to staff shortages.

The health board has put in place an improved recruitment plan, committed to over-recruitment to avoid future staffing problems on the ward and has hired trainees, Ms Freeman told MSPs.

The health secretary intends to make another statement in parliament in January on progress.

Mr Dey highlights an updated version of the housing guide has been published this year.

The minister also confirms he is working with government colleagues in an effort to tackle homelessness among veterans.

We know there are many areas where we are leading the way in Scotland he says.

But he accepts it is the right approach to take stock and ensure we are reacting to changing needs.

Image source, bbc

Veterans Minister Graeme Dey says the role of veterans minister is one he is delighted and honoured to take.

He says the Scottish government is looking at how to transfer information on the NHS central register to the ISD, allowing the data of veterans who contact the NHS mental health services to be collated.

This will not only allow the tracking of any tragedies, but also pick up on those at risk, says the new veterans minister.

Mr Dey praises the excellent work of Eric Fraser and welcomes Charlie Wallace to the role of Scottish veterans commissioner.

Tory MSP Edward Mountain welcomes Charlie Wallace to the role of Scottish veterans commissioner.

He highlights how veterans often feel lonely after discharge, which often gives rise to feelings of worthlessness.

Veterans bring a great transferable skill set from the services, Mr Mountain says.

On homelessness among veterans, the Tory MSP agrees consideration should be given to offering family quarters not in use to them.

"Veterans and their families require support at all stages of the life," he says, and calls for protection from legacy investigations.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie welcomes the many veterans and service personnel to the chamber today and thanks them for their service.

Ms Baillie praises the work of Forces In Mind Trust, external.

The Labour MSP says: "What we need is an implementation and monitoring framework."

She hopes the government "walks the walk" to achieve this.

Ms Baillie calls for a "Scottish Service Pupil Premium" to be instigated and stresses the need for proper funding for this.

The UK government introduced the Service Pupil Premium (SPP) in April 2011 in recognition of the specific challenges children from service families face and as part of the commitment to delivering the armed forces covenant.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Tom Mason tells the chamber: "I have been stupid enough to play around with explosives at the expense of my left hand."

He says in a "twisted irony" this was after he had been accepted for training as a fighter pilot.

He jokes that given his subsequent catalogue of accidents it probably saved the public a lot of money.

The Tory MSP says that during his recovery period at Roehampton Hospital he witnessed a lot of veterans from the second world war who still had not received their false limbs, which was "frankly degrading".

He took his first political reaction as a result, organising a wheelchair protest in London to highlight the issue.

Mr Mason explains a junior minister was sent to quell the riot and things got a little bit better.

Things have improved since then, but it is certainly not job done Mr Mason insists.

Image source, PA

Veterans who have served in the armed forces for a short time are at increased risk of self-harm, researchers have found.

Academics analysed the long-term risks of non-fatal self-harm, serious enough to warrant hospital admission, in all veterans living in Scotland.

The team at the University of Glasgow focused on those who served between 1960 and 2012.

Overall the risk to veterans with brief service increased by 30%.

But for those who left service before completing their initial training the risk soared by 70%.

Read more here.

Image source, Andrew Christie

A former soldier from Aberdeen has called on the Ministry of Defence to do more for veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Andrew Christie, who served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq, said he was diagnosed with PTSD while serving with the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The 36-year-old said charities were being left to pick up the pieces.

The MoD said it was "committed to helping any member of the military community who is struggling".

Read more.

SNP MSP Keith Brown begins by highlighting the dedication and professionalism of our armed forces.

He adds to the calls for the debt of gratitude owed to our veterans and serving personnel.

The former veterans minister welcomes the steps taken by the Scottish government to recognise the sacrifice of our armed forces personnel.

Image source, bbc

Mr Brown says: "I think it is a stomach churning hypocrisy and mendacity for those who want to use the ending of UK government funding for services in Scotland as an expedient to attack the Scottish government."

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says first point services are a health service and they are fully devolved to this parliament, adding "it's our responsibility".

Mr Brown hits back saying unfortunately the member does not understand that the the initial Libor funding for the services came from the UK government which then ended.

The Scottish government has had to pick up the reigns and provide these services, he says.

A support service described as a lifeline for hundreds of armed forces veterans has been closed due to funding issues.

Veterans First Point (V1P) centres were set up in Scotland with money gathered from UK banks in Libor fines for rigging the benchmark interest rate.

However, as funding ran out local health boards had to pick up the costs.

The Aberdeen (Grampian) centres was forced to close as a result.

Veterans such as Jack Dunlop, 73, who served with the RAF, spoke to BBC Scotland about his fear of losing the service and the support he sought out.

Mr Dunlop, who is originally from Ayrshire and now lives in Aberdeen, told BBC Scotland he has suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) since the 1960s.

He said it was triggered after he witnessed a plane crash and had to help in the aftermath, which included picking up body parts.

Read more about Mr Dunlop's story here.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles begins by highlighting one in twenty adults in Scotland serve in the armed forces.

While the vast majority go on to live totally healthy lives, there are many who do not he states.

Mr Rumbles highlights the folding of Veteran First Point (V1P) Grampian, which he says is due to funding issues with the health board.

Veterans Minister Graeme Day says NHS Grampian refused the Scottish government's offer of match funding and goes on to argue the health board is not underfunded.

Mr Rumbles insists £165m was taken from NHS Grampian's funding due to the NHS funding formula.

That's why the health board could not afford to spend money on the veteran service, he says.

The Lib Dem MSP however does welcome the fact the Scottish government does provide match funding to other health boards.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Mark Griffin, like Mr Corry, declares an interest as he is an armed forces veteran.

Mr Griffin thanks Keith Brown for the work he did in the role of veterans minister and welcomes Graeme Dey to the post.

He recognises service personnel often need help with the transition to civilian life.

Mr Griffin says the stress of combat can be beyond what is imaginable, telling the story of a soldier who had served in Afghanistan who told of being under fire and losing a comrade.

The Labour MSP says there are too many fantastic organisations helping veterans to mention them all.

He concludes highlighting the work of Forces Line where service members can go to in confidence.

He calls on MSPs to back the fantastic charities helping veterans in their constituencies.

The Scottish government cannot become complacent when it comes to the mental health of veterans, Mr Corry says.

The standard of care is nowhere near what is should be, he asserts.

He argues the Vale of Level hospital may be an ideal location for drop-in services.

Mr Corry urges the Scottish government to work more closely with local health boards to ensure veterans are properly supported.