HC Deb 09 March 1998 vol 308 cc13-4
10. Angela Smith

If he will make a statement on Defence Medical Services. [31412]

Dr. Reid

Defence Medical Services continues to carry out its duties with professionalism and dedication, both in peacetime and in support of operations. We are urgently addressing shortfalls in manpower and operational medical equipment in the context of the strategic defence review. We are also reviewing the future arrangements for secondary care.

Angela Smith

Does my hon. Friend agree that the state of Defence Medical Services is an indictment of the condition in which it was left by the Conservative Government? What steps are being taken to rectify equipment and personnel shortages?

Dr. Reid

We knew in opposition that there were problems with Defence Medical Services, and just before the general election, the Defence Committee highlighted its parlous state. Detailed scrutiny has revealed that we had not realised how bad things were. There are severe manpower shortages and such a lack of proper investment that we could not properly support a single operational brigade without implementing wider measures such as the use of reserves.

I shall not pretend that there are no difficulties, but the matter is a priority in the strategic defence review: the shortages constitute one of the potholes that we will have to fill before we enhance other capabilities. I have commissioned an urgent review of secondary care in the United Kingdom, and am treating the matter seriously.

Mr. Wilkinson

The Minister's statement that steps will be taken to improve the capability of Defence Medical Services is welcome, not least because it shows that the Government are responsive to Select Committee recommendations. Will he improve the quality of Defence Medical Services by taking three comprehensive steps: by providing an adequate career structure for medical officers in the three services; by increasing the number of defence medical units in general hospitals; and by augmenting the capacity and range of responsibilities of medical reservists of all three services?

Dr. Reid

The hon. Gentleman asks about the career structure. He will know that this year's settlement for dentists, for instance, was widely welcomed. We are considering the reintroduction of distinctions in the medical services that are comparable with what is outside. There is a range of instruments at our disposal, including, as he said, the wider and perhaps earlier use of the reserves in the Defence Medical Training Organisation.

All those matters are being seriously considered, but I should not like to lead the House to think that there are easy answers, first, because of the inherited position from which we start and, secondly, because of the changing nature of the health service and trusts, which are now much more competitive than before. Because of the reduction in armed forces personnel, it is difficult to keep a range of tasks that employ the expertise of the medical services.