NHS ‘military wards’ to be set up
The government is considering creating special military wards within NHS hospitals for seriously ill soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tony Blair said an announcement on the new arrangements would be made soon, to ensure that servicemen and women are treated in a comfortable environment.
His comments came as he was forced to defend once again the remarks made by the head of the army, general Richard Dannatt, who said last week that British troops should withdraw from Iraq “sometime soon” as their presence was making the security situation worse.
“Of course it’s the case that in some of those areas in Iraq, in particular where Iraqi forces want to take control, it’s important we don’t overstay the time we should be there,” Mr Blair told his monthly press conference in Downing Street.
“But in no sense was he saying, and no-one should say, that we should get out before the job is done. He is not saying we should leave Iraq now.”
Sir Richard had also questioned Britain’s goals in Iraq, suggesting only time would tell whether the aim of creating a liberal democracy there was “sensible or naïve”.
Today Mr Blair argued the general had in fact “spelt it out very well – we want a functioning democracy, a functioning economy and security that is in the hands of the Iraqi forces”.
Sir Richard’s interview came amid growing concerns about the treatment of British troops, which led to the announcement last week of a new cash bonus for those serving overseas to cover their tax bill.
Reports of injured troops being treated in civilian wards on the NHS, and even being confronted by anti-war protestors while they were in hospital, have also caused controversy.
And today Mr Blair said there would be action to address this problem, in the form of new military wards within hospitals where servicemen and women could be treated in a familiar environment.
“The expert advice we have is that some of the most serious injuries are best treated in specialist services in the NHS. But we are looking at military-managed wards in the NHS,” he told reporters.
There would probably only be about two in existence at any one time, the prime minister said, but the proposals would meet the concerns of some soldiers.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox welcomed today’s announcement, saying: “It is totally unacceptable that we have military personnel returning injured from combat and finding themselves put in mixed civilian wards.
“Nothing else will do, other than a guarantee that servicemen and women will be treated in exclusive military units. They deserve the best medical care this country can
give them.”
