§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of HM armed forces who were in active service during the Gulf War are known to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. [97635]
§ Mr. SpellarThe MOD holds information on those Gulf veterans who were referred by their Service Medical Officer or GP for assessment at the MOD's Gulf Veterans Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). Since its establishment in October 1993 and up to 4 November 1999, the MAP has seen 2,893 patients. Of these, 2,283 have had their clinical findings recorded on the MAP database. Of the 2,283,214 Gulf veterans have a recorded diagnosis of PTSD confirmed by a consultant psychiatrist. Of the 214 patients, the number still suffering from PTSD is not known since the MAP does not routinely monitor their health status nor is it responsible for providing treatment. As the veterans assessed by the programme were all self-selected, these figures cannot be used to determine the extent of PTSD in Gulf veterans as a whole. I will write to the right hon. and learned Gentlemen with information on the prevalence of PTSD in the remaining MAP patients who were seen up to 4 November once their medical notes have been reviewed and catalogued.
However, the MOD does not keep a central record of all diagnoses made on currently serving personnel. Responsibility for the health of ex-service personnel, if resident in the UK, lies with the NHS which similarly does not keep a central record on all diagnoses. Neither does the NHS routinely communicate diagnostic information to the MOD. No arrangements are in place to monitor the health of ex-service personnel living overseas. Therefore, the total number of service people on active service in 1990–91 or of Gulf veterans suffering from PTSD is not known.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of(a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Army have been medically discharged solely for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since 1995. [97637]
§ Mr. SpellarThe numbers of personnel medically discharged from the armed forces since 1 January 1995 solely on grounds of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are shown in the table:
Number Royal Navy 23 Army 38 RAF 10 Note:
Figures as reported up to and including 4 November 1999
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the investigations which have been commissioned by medical officers in each year since 1990 regarding the frequency of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among serving members of the armed forces. [97636]
§ Mr. SpellarI refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my predecessor to my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 10 February 1999,Official Report, column 216.