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'No complacency' on military care 'No complacency' on military care
(about 3 hours later)
The government has denied "complacency" over medical care for the armed forces and that standards had fallen.The government has denied "complacency" over medical care for the armed forces and that standards had fallen.
Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram angrily denied the claims by Tory Andrew Murrison in a Commons debate.Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram angrily denied the claims by Tory Andrew Murrison in a Commons debate.
Mr Ingram said "excellent treatment" was given and critics did a "huge discredit" to the armed forces and NHS.Mr Ingram said "excellent treatment" was given and critics did a "huge discredit" to the armed forces and NHS.
Meanwhile, MPs carrying out an inquiry into military medical care visited a hospital where service personnel hurt in Iraq and Afghanistan are treated. And the head of a Birmingham hospital treating injured soldiers told MPs conducting an inquiry that a "negative press campaign" had demoralised staff.
The inquiry, by the Commons Defence Committee, follows criticism of the care and support given to wounded personnel in some areas. Julie Moore spoke to MPs carrying out an inquiry into military medical care as they visited Selly Oak Hospital where service personnel wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are treated.
Its committee members were scheduled to speak to patients, NHS chiefs and representatives at the specialist unit at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital.
The Commons row erupted during a debate on the armed forces.
'Frontline perception''Frontline perception'
Dr Murrison, a Royal Navy Reserve member who served in Iraq in 2003, told Mr Ingram: "You talk of your commitment to our troops in action. The Commons row erupted during a debate on the armed forces. Dr Murrison, a Royal Navy Reserve member who served in Iraq in 2003, told Mr Ingram: "You talk of your commitment to our troops in action.
Can it be improved? Yes, it can and we won't stint in doing so Adam IngramArmed Forces MinisterCan it be improved? Yes, it can and we won't stint in doing so Adam IngramArmed Forces Minister
"Clearly from the front line the perception is very different indeed and I'm surprised at your complacency.""Clearly from the front line the perception is very different indeed and I'm surprised at your complacency."
Mr Ingram called the charge "an outrageous comment". Mr Ingram responded: "Criticisms have been made. Those criticisms now have to be addressed. If they stack up, we will have to find answers.
"The quality and the dedication of our medical teams is of the highest standard," he said.
"Criticisms have been made. Those criticisms now have to be addressed. If they stack up, we will have find answers.
"But we aren't complacent. The overall quality of care, both in theatre and when they return home, is of the very highest standard."But we aren't complacent. The overall quality of care, both in theatre and when they return home, is of the very highest standard.
"Can it be improved? Yes, it can and we won't stint in doing so.""Can it be improved? Yes, it can and we won't stint in doing so."
Mr Ingram also denied allegations that standards of theatre care were worse now than 40 years ago.Mr Ingram also denied allegations that standards of theatre care were worse now than 40 years ago.
"The standard of today's medical service is vastly better than what was provided in the Falklands War, let alone the Vietnam war," he said."The standard of today's medical service is vastly better than what was provided in the Falklands War, let alone the Vietnam war," he said.
He added that casualties now survived injuries that would "certainly have killed them 40 years ago".He added that casualties now survived injuries that would "certainly have killed them 40 years ago".
The Commons Defence Committee inquiry was launched following criticism over the closure of the military hospitals and some complaints about the treatment received by soldiers in NHS hospitals. At Birmingham's Selly Oak hospital, Commons Defence Committee members spoke to patients, NHS chiefs and representatives.
Among criticisms is that there is no suitable accommodation at Selly Oak for family members who want to be with their relative during often long periods of recovery. The small stories and the urban myths have spread while the good stories that have been well reported have not Julie MooreSelly Oak head
The government argues that military hospitals cannot match NHS specialised care and treatment. The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine is based at the hospital which is also setting up a 12-bed military-managed ward following criticism of soldiers being treated alongside civilians.
The committee is expected to publish its recommendations later this year. Ms Moore accused the media of peddling "urban myths" about the treatment of soldiers at Selly Oak.
She said inquiries had found no evidence to substantiate claims that an injured paratrooper was "accosted" by a Muslim at Selly Oak and another soldier told to remove his "offensive" uniform.
Ms Moore, chief executive of University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said staff had "become extra vigilant" to make sure reporters were not posing as soldiers' relatives to gain access to the hospital.
"The small stories and the urban myths have spread while the good stories that have been well reported have not, " she said.
"The time taken to deal with this has been quite considerable."
She added: "We have done some world-first surgery at the hospital and we worked very hard to publicise that but it wasn't picked up as much as some of the stories that did the rounds."
The Commons Defence Committee inquiry, which follows criticism of the care and support given to wounded personnel in some areas, is expected to publish its recommendations later this year.