Infirmary criticised for not recording treatment given to war veterans

The Pennine Acute Trust, which runs Rochdale Infirmary, does not keep records of the take up of a Government scheme which gives war veterans priority NHS treatment.

A Freedom of Information request sent to the trust by the Liberal Democrats showed that there were no records kept of take up for the scheme.

In reply to the request, the Trust stated that: “We have no record of any veteran asking to be considered under the Veteran Priority Scheme. It therefore follows that none have received or been rejected for priority treatment.”

Further figures have shown that only three out of 15 PCTs in Greater Manchester had a system for recording cases – and they hadn’t actually recorded any. The others had no system in place.

Under the long-standing arrangements, pensioners in England, Scotland and Wales are supposed to be given priority NHS treatment for the conditions for which they receive a war pension, subject to clinical need. This provision has now been extended to all veterans where a person has a health problem as a result of their military service.

Lisa Parr, the Trust’s service manager for health records, which includes management of out patient appointments, said: “We are fully aware of our obligations regarding the treatment of military war veterans. It is very important that when war veterans are referred to any of our hospitals for examination or treatment they discuss this with their GP and they identify themselves accordingly. However, without this confirmation, we have no way of knowing that someone is a war veteran.

“Once someone is identified as a war veteran and they meet the criteria set out within the Department of Health’s guidance, they will be seen as a priority by the appropriate health care professional according to their clinical need.

“However, what we don’t do is keep a separate note of how many war veterans we treat. This isn’t practical given that we saw and treated over a million patients last year.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen is calling on the government to tighten up the scheme and make sure veterans get the treatment they deserve from the NHS.

Paul Rowen said: "The pathetic answer from Pennine Acute Hospital Trust just shows how this Government's veterans' treatment scheme is more spin than substance. If none of our local trusts have any idea whether any veterans have benefited from this, how can we be sure it is working at all? No wonder the Royal British Legion says it isn’t effective.

"These are people who have put their lives on the line for this country. They deserve more than meaningless spin from Labour.

"The Government has now promised that it will act urgently to ensure that this scheme really is delivering for the brave men and women across Greater Manchester who have risked life and limb on our behalf which is the least they deserve.”

Ex-fusilier and Member of the Royal British Legion, Councillor Peter Clegg, said: “As a member of the British Legion I know many believe that little effective action has been taken in the last year by the government regarding the veteran’s priority treatment scheme. Delivery remains inadequate and awareness low and this is simply unacceptable. I will be writing to the Government on behalf of the Rochdale Branch of the British Royal Legion to register my concerns.”