§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 9 October (WA 67), what were the standing procedures which should have been followed to ensure that personal medical records were accurately kept during the 1990–91 deployment for the Gulf and that they were fully updated on return to the United Kingdom; what steps have been taken to improve the procedures in the light of lessons learned from the 1990–91 deployment; and on what dates. [HL5093]
§ Lord BachI refer my noble friend to the Ministry of Defence paper,Medical Records in the Gulf, dated October 2001, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. It is also available on the Internet at: http://www.mod.uk/issues/gulfwar/info/ medical/bwa.htm.
A mandatory operational medical record form (F Med 965) is now in use whenever service personnel deploy on non-maritime operations during which time they are not required to have their permanent service medical record (F Med 4) with them. The F Med 4 is held on board ship for the RN ship's company and embarked Royal Marines and thus is available to medical staff. The F Med 4's of deployed Army and RAF personnel are retained at their home base. The F Med 965 has been used in the Army since July 1998 and on a tri-service basis where appropriate from 20 January 1999. It comprises a 12-page booklet in a waterproof cover and should be held by the individual to whom it relates at all times while deployed on operations. Since January 1999, medical centres have been required to record the fact that F Med 965s have been issued to individuals so that forms not returned after the operation can be hastened. On return from deployment, the information recorded on the F Med 965 is to be transferred to the individual's F Med 4. When not being used, the F Med 965 is retained within the individual's F Med 4 and should be reviewed for accuracy at each medical examination and updated following vaccinations and significant health events. An audit procedure is in place to ensure that the information on the F Med 965 is transferred to the F Med 4.
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§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 9 October (WA 67) what proportion of vaccinations for anthrax in 1990–91 were given in the United Kingdom before deployment; and what proportion were given in theatre. [HL5109]
§ Lord BachNo data are readily available showing where and how many immunisations against anthrax were administered in 1991 prior to and during the Gulf Conflict but a proportion of immunisations were given in the United Kingdom as well as in theatre.