GREATER MANCHESTER HOSPITALS HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER VETERANS HAVE RECEIVED PRIORITY TREATMENT

11.11.00am GMT Wed 13th Jan 2010

Andrew Stunell is standing up for veterans in Parliament

The Government's scheme for giving war veterans priority NHS treatment is being ignored by most Greater Manchester hospitals according to research from the Liberal Democrats.

A Freedom of Information request sent to all acute trusts and PCTs in Greater Manchester showed that only 3 out of 16 even had a system for recording cases - and they hadn't actually recorded any. The others had no system in place, with Royal Bolton NHS Trust admitting that they hadn't done so as they were still awaiting guidance from the MOD.

Hazel Grove's Lib Dem MP Andrew Stunell challenged Health Minister Mike O'Brien in the Commons on Tuesday to tighten up the scheme and make sure veterans get the treatment they deserve from the NHS.

Commenting, Andrew Stunell said:

"These pathetic answers from the PCTs show the 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 Minister promised me that he would 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. His words are welcome, but now let's see some real action."

ENDS