MP
for Gosport, Peter Viggers, this afternoon raised the issue
of Defence Medical Services and the treatment of service
personnel, in a question to Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Mr
Viggers asked why service personnel in other countries
were cared for in military hospitals, whilst our own troops
are looked after by the NHS. He asked the Prime Minister
to comment on his belief that the operation of Defence
Medical Services from Selly Oak in Birmingham ‘isn’t
working and won’t work’, and asked him to yield
to pressure to retain the only military hospital left – the
Royal Hospital Haslar in Gosport.
He
said afterwards, “The
Government’s initial plan for Defence Medical Services
was to provide a new £200m headquarters at Selly
Oak, adjacent to the University Hospital. That plan was
scrapped, and no alternative implemented.
“The present
proposal is to base staff at RAF Lichfield, which is approximately
15 miles to the north and east of Birmingham. Even if the
site was found to be suitable, funding would still be required
to convert it for use as staff accommodation, and to provide
sufficient bus links to and from the hospital – a
minimum 45 minute journey.
“Previously, health ministers
have refused to allow the Independent Reconfiguration Panel
to investigate the proposed closure of Haslar and the plans
for health provision in our region.
“If the IRP
was to be allowed to look at the problem perhaps they would
be able to identify a practical way forward.”
Today’s
PMQs can be seen in full at:
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page10234.asp |
