Ministry of Defence: treating injury and illness arising on military operations twenty-seventh report of session 2009-10 report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

House of Commons papers 427 2009-10

Corporate Author:

Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts

Author:

Edward Leigh (chairman)

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

Since October 2001 565 service men and women have been seriously injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, some 125,000 troops based there have sought medical help for minor injuries and illnesses, and a further 1,700 for mental health conditions. Nearly all seriously injured troops who return back to the UK for medical treatment go first to the NHS hospital at Selly Oak and then to Headley Court for rehabilitation. The care of the seriously injured to date has been highly effective, and support for the families of seriously injured troops is good. The main challenge the Department faces, should casualties increase significantly, is to ensure that all military patients will receive the same standard of care they currently experience at Selly Oak and Headley Court. Some soldiers have suffered severe life changing injuries and will require specialist care for many years. This presents a further long term challenge not only for the Department who provide specialist care for them and support for their families while they remain in the Services, but also for the NHS and other government departments who will become responsible for the medical care and support of seriously injured soldiers after they leave the Armed Forces. Minor injury and illness are a lesser issue but still have the potential to impact on the fighting strength and morale of our Armed Forces in Afghanistan and the increase in rates from 4 to 7 per cent since 2006 is of concern.

Extent	[2], , Ev 11p.	ISBN	9780215545534
Size	N/A	Price	£8.50
Format	Paperback	Published	29 Mar 2010
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