Open Leter to Chief Executive of Frimley Park Hospital

6.48.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 5th Oct 2008

Dear Mr Morrris

Caring for Miltary Personnel

The Government has recently rejected a public appeal to create a dedicated Military and Veterans Hospital within the UK.

The appeal followed public concern about the level of clinical care being afforded to wounded military personnel repatriated to the UK and the rapidly growing number being medically discharged.. A petition submitted to the Prime Minister's office called for a separate facility to ensure that our service men and women and veterans received the best medical care possible.

Frimley Park has of course been at the forefront of the changes that followed the closure of military hospitals in the mid '90s. Apart from savings in costs and administration, one of the main reasons for the changes was the need to ensure that military doctors and other health professionals remained at the top of their profession through dealing with a wider range and volume of cases. Although this argument was generally accepted it was less clear what the benefits would be for patients and there is now renewed concern about whether the needs of military personnel are being adequately met.

I would very much welcome your views on the extent to which you feel Frimley Park is meeting the needs of the military in this heavily-populated area and if you feel further improvements can be made. In particular, I share the concern that exists about the absence of properly equipped military managed wards for serving personnel and the need to ensure that rehabilitation for military patients is conducted in a wholly military environment..

In view of the level of public interest in this matter I have released this letter to the Press and look forward to your reply in due course.

Yours sincerely

Ray Earwicker

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

for Bracknell