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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Warning over UK troop illnesses | Warning over UK troop illnesses |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Defence chiefs must tackle a rise in the number of British troops in Afghanistan suffering from illness, the National Audit Office (NAO) said. | Defence chiefs must tackle a rise in the number of British troops in Afghanistan suffering from illness, the National Audit Office (NAO) said. |
| The public spending watchdog also said Afghan and UK hospitals were under pressure from the large number of troops injured in Helmand province. | |
| But it said the treatment of those badly wounded is "highly effective". | But it said the treatment of those badly wounded is "highly effective". |
| It comes as the armed forces prepare for a major offensive in Helmand, southern Afghanistan. | |
| About 4,000 British soldiers are expected to take part in the joint Nato and Afghan army operation. | |
| The NAO found thousands of working days are being lost to preventable complaints like stomach bugs and sprained ankles. | |
| The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is expected to change the financial compensation for wounded soldiers. | |
| The report estimated that the cost of medical care as a result of Britain's military operations was £71m in 2008-09. | |
| Lost days | Lost days |
| It also said the MoD and Department of Health needed to carry out more detailed planning for possible scenarios involving a big increase in casualties. | |
| The NAO found that rates of minor injury and illness among troops deployed to Afghanistan nearly doubled between 2006 and 2009, increasing from 4% to 7% of the total. | The NAO found that rates of minor injury and illness among troops deployed to Afghanistan nearly doubled between 2006 and 2009, increasing from 4% to 7% of the total. |
| Given that the Selly Oak military hospital now has unrivalled expertise, we will be seeking reassurance that the quality of care for service personnel will remain high, even if Selly Oak becomes full Edward Leigh MP | Given that the Selly Oak military hospital now has unrivalled expertise, we will be seeking reassurance that the quality of care for service personnel will remain high, even if Selly Oak becomes full Edward Leigh MP |
| The rate went up from 5% to 9% in Iraq over roughly the same period. | The rate went up from 5% to 9% in Iraq over roughly the same period. |
| The watchdog estimated that 6,700 days were lost in Afghanistan between October 2006 and September 2009 because of the increase. | The watchdog estimated that 6,700 days were lost in Afghanistan between October 2006 and September 2009 because of the increase. |
| It suggested that possible reasons for the rise could include the intensity of operations, basic living conditions at some forward operating bases or improved reporting of medical data. | It suggested that possible reasons for the rise could include the intensity of operations, basic living conditions at some forward operating bases or improved reporting of medical data. |
| But the NAO also said the MoD's limited data meant it could not judge the significance of these individual factors. | But the NAO also said the MoD's limited data meant it could not judge the significance of these individual factors. |
| The spending watchdog raised concerns about contingency planning should Afghanistan casualty numbers overwhelm the specialist military facility at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. | |
| There is a voluntary agreement in the West Midlands to maximise the number of injured troops cared for at Selly Oak by diverting civilian trauma patients to other hospitals in the region. | There is a voluntary agreement in the West Midlands to maximise the number of injured troops cared for at Selly Oak by diverting civilian trauma patients to other hospitals in the region. |
| 'Scope for improvement' | 'Scope for improvement' |
| If there is no room for military casualties at Selly Oak, they will be treated first in hospitals in the region, then nationally. | If there is no room for military casualties at Selly Oak, they will be treated first in hospitals in the region, then nationally. |
| The NAO report said: "There is scope for improvement, for example by modelling the capacity required under different casualty scenarios and defining clear indicators for when each level of contingency would be required." | The NAO report said: "There is scope for improvement, for example by modelling the capacity required under different casualty scenarios and defining clear indicators for when each level of contingency would be required." |
| Edward Leigh MP, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: "Given that the Selly Oak military hospital now has unrivalled expertise, we will be seeking reassurance that the quality of care for service personnel will remain high, even if Selly Oak becomes full. | Edward Leigh MP, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: "Given that the Selly Oak military hospital now has unrivalled expertise, we will be seeking reassurance that the quality of care for service personnel will remain high, even if Selly Oak becomes full. |
| "Disease and minor injury are currently having only a small effect on the capability of our forces but current figures show a rising trend in rates, a near doubling in three years. | "Disease and minor injury are currently having only a small effect on the capability of our forces but current figures show a rising trend in rates, a near doubling in three years. |
| Selly Oak Hospital also cares for injured service personnel | Selly Oak Hospital also cares for injured service personnel |
| "The MoD needs to find out why and improve prevention measures." | "The MoD needs to find out why and improve prevention measures." |
| Veterans Minister Kevan Jones praised the "first class" treatment given to injured servicemen and women. | Veterans Minister Kevan Jones praised the "first class" treatment given to injured servicemen and women. |
| He said: "We proved we have the capacity to cope with an increase in casualty numbers in our response to the Panther's Claw operation last summer and we have contingency plans in place to deal with the unexpected. | He said: "We proved we have the capacity to cope with an increase in casualty numbers in our response to the Panther's Claw operation last summer and we have contingency plans in place to deal with the unexpected. |
| A total of 522 UK service personnel were seriously injured on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan between October 2001 and October 2009, with the peak in July last year. | A total of 522 UK service personnel were seriously injured on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan between October 2001 and October 2009, with the peak in July last year. |
| British troops have attended medical facilities about 125,000 times for treatment of minor injuries and illnesses since 2006, and some 6,900 have been evacuated back to the UK since 2003. | British troops have attended medical facilities about 125,000 times for treatment of minor injuries and illnesses since 2006, and some 6,900 have been evacuated back to the UK since 2003. |
| Meanwhile, changes to the financial compensation given to soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are due to be announced follow an independent review of the Armed Forces compensation scheme, which was introduced in 2005. | Meanwhile, changes to the financial compensation given to soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are due to be announced follow an independent review of the Armed Forces compensation scheme, which was introduced in 2005. |
| The Ministry of Defence set up the review in the wake of growing public pressure to increase the payouts given to soldiers injured in battle. | The Ministry of Defence set up the review in the wake of growing public pressure to increase the payouts given to soldiers injured in battle. |
| Compensation changes | |
| These latest changes are believed to make the scheme both more generous and transparent. | These latest changes are believed to make the scheme both more generous and transparent. |
| Under the old rules a soldier was only compensated for the worst three injuries from any one incident. The new rules will take into account all injuries suffered, with compensation on a sliding scale. | Under the old rules a soldier was only compensated for the worst three injuries from any one incident. The new rules will take into account all injuries suffered, with compensation on a sliding scale. |
| There will also be more generous awards for those who suffer from post traumatic stress and a rise in the annual amount given to soldiers for their loss of earnings. | There will also be more generous awards for those who suffer from post traumatic stress and a rise in the annual amount given to soldiers for their loss of earnings. |
| The BBC understands that the improved compensation scheme is likely to cost the MoD tens of millions of pounds. | |
| BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said: "The report comes as a defence select committee highlights the fact that several years spent fighting on two fronts has left the armed forces ill prepared to take on any new tasks. | |
| "The MPs say Britain's armed forces urgently need a period of recuperation after years of operating at levels well beyond those planned in the last strategic defence review." | |
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