Defence Medical Services

HC Deb 14 July 1997 vol 298 c54W

33. Mr. Viggers

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken to improve the efficiency of the defence medical services. [6539]

Dr. Reid

The Defence Medical Services (DMS) is an efficient organisation staffed ny dedicated personnel who provide a high standard of medical care. I am well aware that there are, however, serious shortages in manpower and we are looking urgently at measures to improve recruitment and retention. In this context, I hope very soon to be in a position to respond to the recent report by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.

The Government have recently accepted the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) which bring medical and dental officers' pay more closely into line with that of their NHS colleagues. In addition, pensions will, from April 1997, be based on the new medical and dental pay scales rather than combatant pay. We hope that these changes will improve the attractiveness of a career in the DMS. The future structure and organisation of the DMS, will of course, need to reflect the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.