§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why Major (Retired) Christine Lloyd has been refused access to the Ministry of Defence consultant 53WA (now serving as the Deputy Director of Aviation Medicine) who assessed her in May 1996 as suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, attributable to her service in the Gulf War; and whether any Minister has discussed, or will discuss, with the consultant his supportive opinion of 13 May 1996. [HL5772]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)The Deputy Director of Aviation Medicine was Head of Ministry of Defence's Gulf Veteran's Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP) until 31 December 1996. It would be inappropriate for him to discuss Major (Retired) Lloyd's case with her as there is no longer a patient doctor relationship between them. The current head of the GVMAP is very willing to discuss the medical aspects of Major (Retired) Lloyd's case with her, or her representatives, provided she gives her written consent. It would be inappropriate for Ministers to intervene in clinical matters. They have not done so and have no plans to do so in this case.