§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of service personnel has been treated at the service hospitals of Haslar and Wroughton in each of the last five years; and what is the estimated travelling time to each hospital from the closest airfield likely to be used in emergencies.
§ Mr. SoamesThe proportion of service personnel, expressed as a percentage of the total strength of the armed forces, treated at the Royal Naval hospital Haslar and the Princess Alexandra RAF hospital Wroughton500W averaged 7.3 per cent. and 6.4 per cent. respectively in the five years from 1989–90 to 1993–94. The closest airfield to the Princess Alexandra RAF hospital is RAF Lyneham, which is approximately 30 minutes by road. The closest suitable airfield to the Royal Naval hospital Haslar is Eastleigh, which is about 45 minutes away by road. Both hospitals have helicopter landing sites. Depending on the circumstances, Service patients requiring emergency treatment will continue to be taken to the most convenient civilian or military hospital; one of the primary purposes for a military hospital is to train defence medical services personnel.