Published: Thursday, 16th October, 2008 08:30
Oor Wullie
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Westminster can be very chaotic at times but one thing it does do well is the select committees. It’s where normally partisan politicians put aside party badges to combine their minds to hold the Government to account.
Recently the defence committee conducted an inquiry into armed forces medical care following a series of alarming news stories and reports about the state of the service.
The inquiry involved a series of evidence sessions in the parliament with health and MoD officials, academics, experts and ministers backed up by site visits to a variety of military bases, hospitals and health facilities both here and overseas.
It gave us a unique insight into an extremely important service that is fundamental to the well being and morale of our defences.
As a member of the mommittee at the time I was impressed by the quality of the healthcare provided, despite the obvious immense challenges of conflict.
The Queen Elizabeth Barracks at Strensall, near York operates a real time conflict hospital complete with doctors, nurses, theatres, actors, fake blood and amputated limbs. It gives the health professionals exposure to some of the lifelike extreme and gory experiences they will encounter in conflict zones.
The hospital at Basra airbase in Iraq is rudimentary with a series of interconnecting tents yet its apparent simplicity hid the sophistication of the operation which treated injured soldiers with the professionalism that you would expect at the Queen Margaret Hospital.
Because of such professionalism in preparation and delivery, and advances in medical procedures our troops are surviving with injuries that in years past would have resulted in certain death. That has implications though as they have to live with those crippling injuries and the mental consequences.
It is the mental consequences that are posing the principal difficulty for the M0D. For decades few talked about their feelings, certainly not their mental health and absolutely not if you were a soldier, sailor or airman. The stigma associated with mental health has led thousands of servicemen to bury those problems only for them to exhibit in a far more serious manner decades later.
However, Combat Stress, a charity which supports veterans with mental health problems, reports that the average age of those receiving treatment has fallen from the mid sixties to the mid forties simply because it has become more acceptable to admit. As a result of this, still subtle, culture change the demand for services is growing.
But there is still a challenge to encourage veterans and servicemen to present to the medical services which is why the MoD has teamed up with NHS Lothian’s River Centre to develop a pilot model of community support for veterans.
Within the forces there are several new support programmes that have been introduced such as the TRIM programme for immediate post conflict acclimatisation and the new Territorial Army Centre at Chilwell.
I do have issues with the MoD contract that is held by the Priory Group to provide services for serving troops with more severe mental illness. Many professionals believe that this service would be better provided in a military environment or at a more local level. The current set up is neither fish nor fowl.
It’s been well recognised that the armed forces are overstretched but the problem is even greater in Defence Medical Services with massive shortages for surgeons, anaesthetists and others. A vicious circle quickly forms in such circumstances as we ask more from ever decreasing numbers because we ask for too much. We need to match resources with commitments. Either we cut back on our commitments overseas or we provide extra troops and equipment. Carrying on as we are is not an option.
Sergeant Scott Paterson, from Comrie, who was seriously injured in a landmine attack in Afghanistan, was treated at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. The new set -up at Selly Oak, where the injured from theatre are first treated when they fly back into the UK, means that we can bring together the best of the NHS and the Defence Medical Services. Like all other injured soldiers Sergeant Paterson deserved the best treatment available.
As part of the inquiry we visited Headley Court, the main rehabilitation unit, in Surrey and the Regional Rehabilitation Unit at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh. They aim not only to help people recover but are sharply focused on getting them back to work as soon as possible.
Providing health services for service families is, by its very nature, problematic. We all find it difficult enough to register for an NHS dentist but because service families have an almost nomadic existence as soon as they register at one home, they move and have to start the process all over again. That’s why I welcome the Scottish and UK Government’s new measures to tackle the problem of continuity of care. I’ll be watching to ensure they deliver.
Overall, even though much more needs done, there has been some progress. The latest ministerial reshuffle has seen the appointment of Kevan Jones as the minister responsible for such matters. Kevan was a fellow member of the committee during the inquiry. I’m sure he’ll put what he learned to good use for the benefit of servicemen, their families and veterans.
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