Creation Of A Veterans' Administration Could Improve Healthcare For Military Personnel, Says British Medical Association, UK

Main Category: Veterans / Ex-Servicemen
Article Date: 21 May 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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Doctors at the BMA's annual conference of armed forces doctors1 tomorrow (Thursday, 22nd May 2008) will discuss a call for the creation of a new Veteran's Administration to coordinate health care for service men and women who need support after leaving the military.

Dr Brendan McKeating, Chairman of the BMA's Armed Forces Committee, said:

"The UK needs to revisit the provision of healthcare for those members of the armed forces who require ongoing treatment following the end of their military service."

"Veterans are entitled to priority care in the NHS, but at the moment it is not clear whether they are receiving the treatment they need and deserve. Serious consideration needs to be given to whether the establishment of an independent cross-departmental Veterans' Administration, funded by general taxation, is necessary to oversee the creation of a system of armed forces healthcare that is fit for purpose."

"Providing good quality care for our armed forces requires joined up thinking. We need a closer partnership between military and civilian health care systems so that veterans with chronic conditions are given a standard of care that is not only first rate, but also tailored to their needs at the end of their term of duty."

This proposed reform is one of several important motions being discussed at the conference. Other topics to be covered include the chronic shortfalls in medical personnel in all branches of the armed forces.

Dr McKeating said:

"The government needs to address the recruitment and retention problems that are leading to a shortage in trained deployable doctors."

"In the last two years the government's efforts have resulted in the addition of just 15 doctors to the pool of armed forces medical personnel. This poor overall figure is partly down to the real problem in retaining doctors who are leaving the military and contributing significantly to the 275 shortfall in manpower identified by recent Ministry of Defence figures2."

"The Government needs to find a solution to this serious issue."

1. The BMA Armed Forces doctor's annual conference is not open to the media. If you would like more information please contact the BMA press office. Dr Brendan McKeating, Chairman of the BMA's Armed Forces committee will be available to talk about the issues that will be raised at the conference.

2. Data supplied by Ministry of Defence (April 2007).

http://www.bma.org.uk

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