Review into NHS prosthetics services for veterans launched
Add bookmark• the future funding of high specification, evidence-based prosthetics; services within the NHS and the possible contribution of personal health budgets and the inclusion of these in continuing healthcare arrangements• how regional variations in service can be minimised
• how the transition from the armed forces' prosthetics care to the NHS can be improved; and• the role of Service charities in helping to meet the realistic needs of individuals over and above that which the NHS can provide.
"I am grateful to the Service charities for bringing this to our attention. We remain firmly committed to ensuring that military personnel will continue to receive the standard of prostheses issued by the MOD at Headley Court when they are discharged."Service personnel risk everything in the service of this country and the NHS must provide the first class care that these brave men and women rightly deserve and help to improve their health outcomes."
The Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, said:
"Britain owes a great debt to those members of the Armed Forces who have made sacrifices to keep our country safe. We have a duty to provide the highest levels of care to those injured in service throughout their lives. I am proud that the Government has set the gold standard in developing prosthetics for our troops at Headley Court, but our veterans deserve the same levels of care."I welcome Dr Murrison's report, which I hope will help us to deliver a more comprehensive approach to veterans' care."
"Following on from my assessment of mental health services for the Armed Forces and veterans and subsequent report, Fighting Fit, I am pleased to be taking forward this review, to look at the ongoing needs and provision of NHS service for veterans who have received prosthetics."The provision of prosthetics service for the Armed Forces at Headley Court is recognised as exemplary and it is important to identify and understand possible issues that may arise for NHS providers or veterans when striving to maintain the same level of service in the future."