Military Trauma Care Praised As 'Exemplary'

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) today welcomed the Healthcare Commission's first ever review of Defence Medical Services (DMS). The independent report praised the MoD's trauma care and rehabilitation facilities as 'exemplary.'

The Healthcare Commission commended the quality of care provided to service personnel in challenging operational environments, highlighting the ability to quickly reach and treat casualties. Innovations in the treatment of major injuries and the design of our field hospitals are also praised.

The Healthcare Commission highlighted the quality of the rehabilitation services offered at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court and at Regional Rehabilitation Units.

The Healthcare Commission's review was conducted at the invitation of the Armed Forces' Surgeon General Lieutenant General Louis Lillywhite, who is responsible for healthcare delivered to the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, and their dependents overseas and in the UK. This model of external audit will be continued in future.

The report identified certain areas where DMS can improve, such as the maintenance and cleanliness of some medical centres and the need to introduce new ambulances in Cyprus.

Commenting on today's report, Surgeon General Lillywhite said: "I am grateful to the Healthcare Commission for carrying out their independent assessment of Defence Medical Services.

"This review rightly praises areas where we are delivering first class medical care and will help us meet the high standards our servicemen and women deserve by driving through improvement where needed.

"The review has endorsed the excellent care we offer our personnel injured on operations, particularly our trauma care, our ability to reach and treat casualties and the training we give our deployed medical personnel.

"This is testament to the professionalism and courage of our medical staff that deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan and to the dedication of the individuals and organizations back in the UK who support them.

"As the Healthcare Commission has suggested, I have already started discussions with NHS colleagues to plan how we shall share our best practice."

The Ministry of Defence is committed to meeting all the Healthcare Commission's recommendations.

He said they had already remedied a number of the more serious problems identified in the infrastructure and are working on the rest and will carry out a review of other facilities to identify and address any similar deficiencies.

Action is also underway to replace all ambulances in Cyprus by July this year.

(JM/BMcC)