"The good news is that my report has
found that treatment for seriously injured personnel is highly
effective. Alongside this positive finding, we point out the
need to continue to improve contingency planning for facilities in
the UK in the context of a longer term conflict, and the importance
of increased efforts to prevent disruption due to rising levels of
short term illness."
Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, 10 February
2010
A report released today by the National Audit
Office has found that the clinical treatment and rehabilitation of
service personnel seriously injured on military operations are
highly effective. The report notes, however, that the rate of
illness and minor injury among personnel on operations has almost
doubled in three years.
Military commanders, and the patients to whom
the NAO spoke, have confidence in the clinical treatment provided
at medical facilities in Afghanistan, at Selly Oak, the main
hospital for seriously injured troops, and at Headley Court, the
MOD’s main rehabilitation facility. The quality of care for
the seriously injured is demonstrated by the number of what are
medically known as "unexpected survivors", with the Department’s
strength in clinical care underpinned by a clear focus on trauma
care.
Medical capacity at both Selly Oak and Headley
Court has been sufficient to deal with casualties to date, but it
is under increasing pressure. In addition, the main field
hospital in Afghanistan – Camp Bastion – is currently coping with
casualty levels, but working close to capacity. Contingency
plans for providing further capacity back in the UK for care for
injured Service personnel have recently improved, but should be
developed further.
Reported rates of disease and minor injury in
Afghanistan have almost doubled from four to seven per
cent. The MOD’s data does not allow it to identify the
significance of any of the individual causes of the increase in
illness or minor injury which are likely to include the basic
living conditions at some forward operating bases, the intensity of
operations and improved reporting. Preventing minor illness is
preferable to evacuating troops for treatment and would minimize
the impact on military capability.
The MOD has taken steps to provide support on
operations to personnel at risk of developing mental health
conditions but there are weaknesses in follow-up for those service
personnel who deploy individually or move between units following
deployment.
522 military personnel were seriously injured
on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan between October 2001 and
October 2009. Personnel on operations have attended medical
facilities 125,000 times for minor injury and illness since 2006
and a further 1,700 times for mental health conditions. The
NAO has estimated that the cost of medical care provided as a
result of military operations was £71 million in 2008-09.
Publication details:
HC: 294, 2009-10
ISBN: 9780102963502