New technology is helping ex-service personnel battle the pain they continually suffer from old war injuries.

Veterans charity Erskine is using a revolutionary new app that tells medical staff how much discomfort residents are suffering on a daily basis.

PainChek uses artificial intelligence to analyse facial expressions, which in turn indicates the pain levels of the former military personnel.

Bosses at Erskine say the ground-breaking science enables nurses and carers to carry out a daily assessment of each of the 330 residents at the charity’s care homes.

This means staff can then decide what treatment or medication each resident might require.

Due to their age and infirmity, many residents are often unable to tell staff if they are in pain or the extent of their pain, particularly those with dementia.

Erskine say the technology, which works in conjunction with a smartphone, laptop or tablet device, can give residents a better quality of life.

Derek Barron, director of care at Erskine, told The Gazette: “The introduction of the PainChek app helps us improve the quality of care for residents by identifying those who may be in pain.

“This is especially important for people living with dementia who may not be able to verbalise that they are in pain and become distressed due to this.

“Technology is deeply embedded in supporting the provision and delivery of care at Erskine and this is the latest example.”

Erskine, which was founded in 1916, during the First World War, is Scotland’s largest care provider for military veterans, looking after Army, Navy and RAF veterans and their spouses at care homes in Bishopton, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

It also runs a veterans’ village in Bishopton, made up of more than 70 living quarters and an activity centre.

PainCheck director Pete Shergill said he expects the technology to be rolled out in care homes across the UK in the near future.

He added: “Erskine is leading by example in recognising the importance of accurate pain assessment for effective chronic and acute pain management for our ageing population.”