Forces face medical care crisis

Field hospitals are crucial to any war effort

A serious staff shortage in the armed forces means they would be unable to provide full medical care to soldiers in the event of a war, according to new figures.

Figures released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have revealed Britain's forces to be chronically short of medically trained personnel.

Our armed forces deserve better

Menzies Campbell

On current staff numbers, the army would only be able to set up five field hospitals as opposed to the 14 it would need in the event of a full-scale war.

The MoD acknowledged there was a serious problem but said new policies were being introduced to encourage more doctors and nurses into the armed forces.

'Profoundly disturbing'

The Liberal Democrats described the figures as "profoundly disturbing".

Lib Dem defence spokesman Menzies Campbell, who obtained the figures, called for urgent action.

"These figures show very clearly that Britain's defence medical services are struggling to meet requirements," he said.

"The dedicated and professional men and women who serve as doctors and nurses are severely overstretched.

"Our armed forces deserve better. Urgent action is required."

Recommended staff numbers for the armed forces are set out in the government's strategic defence review (SDR).

But in many cases the number of doctors and nurses in certain specialities is 90% below those recommended levels.

According to the SDR, the defence medical service (DMS) is supposed to be able to provide three field hospitals with a staff of 416 each, run by the regular army, and another 11 staffed by reservists.

However, the DMS only has sufficient personnel to run one-and-a-half hospitals while the Territorial Army can only provide enough for another three-and-a-half.

The regular DMS is 30% below strength with 6,135 personnel as against a requirement of 8,543.

Acute shortages

For some specialist doctors and consultant posts the shortages are much more acute.

There are currently just three accident and emergency specialists compared to a requirement of 23 - a shortfall of 87%.

Burns and plastics specialists are 70% below strength with just three as against a requirement of 10.

General surgeons are also in short supply with 21 available compared to the SDR figure of 44.

A MoD spokesman acknowledged that the DMS was suffering "serious" staff shortages.

He added that while numbers were stabilising, more personnel were still taking voluntary early retirement than they would like.

"We believe that the new strategy for the future of the defence medical service will provide a professionally attractive and rewarding career not only for those who are already serving but also for those thinking of joining," said the spokesman.