§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans are in place to return NHS employees to the United Kingdom following service with the TA medical services in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement. [113898]
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Territorial Army medical staff in the Gulf will return to their jobs in the national health service; and if he will make a statement. [114566]
§ Dr. MoonieThe majority of Territorial Army medical personnel are serving with either 34 Field Hospital (34 Fd Hosp) or 202 Volunteer Field Hospital (202 (V) Fd Hosp). On current plans, 34 Fd Hosp personnel should return to the United Kingdom by the end of May 2003. 202 (V) Fd Hosp personnel will be released from theatre through a staged process beginning in the next few weeks. It is hoped that all should have returned by the end of July 2003. There are some additional singleton appointments undertaken by medical personnel who will leave theatre as and when their parent Regular unit leaves theatre. TA personnel will be able to return to their employment with the national health service once they have been through the demobilisation process and taken their post operational tour leave which is commensurate with the period of their mobilised service.