Plea to end injured troops' gifts

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Military chiefs have asked well-wishers to stop sending Christmas presents to injured soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital because they already have too many.

The Birmingham hospital has received "hundreds and hundreds" of gifts, from bottles of whisky to DVD players.

Major Ian Cheesman said the support was "touching" and advised people to donate money to charity instead.

Selly Oak has admitted more military amputees this year than any British hospital since World War II.

Christmas 'gunfire'

Maj Cheesman, officer in charge of patient support services, said: "We've asked people not to bring presents in because we have literally been inundated - we've got more than we could cope with."

My biggest fear is my feet. I've spent half my career on my feet. Major Bernard Broad

The service personnel are cared for at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at the hospital and about 22 will not be allowed home for Christmas.

Maj Cheesman said they would have "gunfire" first thing on Christmas morning.

"It's a bit of a tradition in the Army," he explained. "Officers go round with a thermos of tea with a bit of rum in it to wake the guys up."

On 25 December, Major Bernard Broad is due to learn if he will ever be fully mobile again.

The 43-year-old was injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded as he travelled in an armoured vehicle in Afghanistan three weeks ago.

The father-of-two, an infantryman since his teenage years, said his greatest fear was losing the ability to walk.

"My biggest fear is my feet," he said. "Being an infanteer, I've spent half my career on my feet.

The numbers and complexity of injuries have gone up massively over the summer and that has stretched us Jane Mason, senior physiotherapist

"The hospital's been very good explaining things to me but, being a comprehensive schoolboy, the actual understanding of what they are saying compared to the simplicity of 'Will I still walk? is a bit grey."

His left heel, blackened and disfigured, is of particular concern.

Maj Broad, from Manchester, said the staff had been "amazing" to him and his family, and they had done their best "to make things Christmas-like".

"It's great to know that our welfare system is working," he said. "My wife, my family have all been looked after."

'Rolls-Royce services'

Between January and the end of November this year, more than 150 service personnel have been flown back from Afghanistan to Birmingham for treatment after suffering "very serious" or "serious" wounding.

Staff at the hospital are treating more amputees

Jane Mason, a senior physiotherapist at the hospital, said services had been "stretched" but the staff had risen to the challenge.

"The numbers and complexity of injuries have gone up massively over the three or four months of the summer and that has stretched us," said the 32-year-old.

"I would say it was the most challenging year, but also the most rewarding.

"Because there are so many more injuries from IEDs and people on foot, we are getting many more amputees than we used to have."

She welcomed improvements in facilities since the hospital was criticised in 2007 but said there was still room for more funding for staff and equipment.

The service we now provide is pretty much Rolls-Royce Major Ian Cheesman

In June the patients and staff will move into a new multi-million pound hospital.

Maj Cheesman said there had been a "metamorphose" in the way Selly Oak was perceived.

"I think three or four years ago there was a perception that we weren't looking after our guys and, in fairness, as we have got busier we have added resources and the service we now provide is pretty much Rolls-Royce," he said.

"We are not complacent but we are very proud of what we do for our guys - this really is the best place for them to come."