To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many casualties were treated on Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus during the period 18 March 2003 to 18 May 2003; and how many of those were classed as injured in combat; (67171)

[holding answer 8 May 2006]: Records from these two facilities are currently being cross-checked and verified against our existing records from the Shaibah Facility, Aeromed returns and Notification of casualty reporting. I will write to the hon. Member once this process is complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many casualties were treated by 33 Field Hospital in the period 18 March 2003 to 18 May 2003; and how many of those were classed as injured in combat. (69450)

[holding answer 8 May 2006]: From the 17 March until the 8 April 2003, 33 Field Hospital was deployed in Iraq as the theatre reserve. It then returned to the United Kingdom. We are currently verifying its records for the period it was deployed to Iraq. I will write to the hon. Gentleman once this process is complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many injured personnel were treated (a) aboard (i) RFA Argus, (ii) Royal Navy ships and (iii) Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships and (b) in British field hospitals during Operation Telic; and what type of injury each had sustained; (74971)

As at 28 May 2006, we very much regret that a total of 113 UK military and civilian defence personnel have died, or are missing presumed dead, while serving on Operation Telic since the start of the campaign in March 2003.

Of these, 84 are classed as killed in action, including as a result of hostile action, 29 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet been officially assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation. These figures may change as inquests are concluded.

During the period March 2003 to the end of April 2006, the best centrally available, verified, figures show that: around 240 UK military and civilian personnel have been treated at the UK's main Field Hospital in Shaibah for wounds received as a result of hostile action and; up to 4,000 UK personnel were medically evacuated from Iraq from all causes, the majority due to accident, illness, or for routine outpatient activities.

Separate records for the same period from Notification of Casualty reporting (NOTICAS), show that around 40 UK military and civilian personnel have been categorised as Very Seriously Ill/Injured/Wounded (VSI) from all causes, and that around 75 personnel have been categorised as Seriously Ill/Injured/Wounded (SI) from all causes. These figures include some personnel treated for wounds received as a result of hostile action. The figures are only comprehensive, including personnel treated at non-UK facilities, from April 11 2005 onwards. During the early phases of Operation Telic the tempo of operations meant that the paperwork associated with the NOTICAS process was not always completed properly and we cannot be certain our records are complete.

We are working to improve our casualty reporting for Operation Telic. We are currently verifying records from the other Field Hospitals which deployed on Operation Telic including RFA Argus, and are engaging with the US to find out a comprehensive figure on how many personnel were treated at their facilities. As far as we know no UK personnel serving in Iraq were treated on Royal Navy or Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships other than RFA Argus. We are also in the process of transferring the paper records sent back from medical facilities deployed on Telic to the Central Health Records Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which locations British troops are being treated for injuries sustained in Iraq. (76990)

Role 1 Medical Treatment Facilities (providing Primary Healthcare, specialised first aid, triage, resuscitation and stabilisation) in Iraq are at the following locations:

Al Udeid (Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison Officer and Primary Healthcare Nurse)

Baghdad (Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison Officer and Primary Healthcare Nurse)

Basra air station

Seeb (Medical Admin Primary Healthcare and Aeromedical Coordinator)

Tallil (UK Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison Officer deployed to US 2 Medical Brigade)

A Role 2 Medical Treatment Facilities (reception and triage of casualties, resuscitation and treatment of shock to a higher level than a Role 1 facility) is located at Al Muthanna/Al Amarah.

A Role 3 Medical Treatment Facilities (Field Hospital) is located at Shaibah Logistical Base.

Additional medical provision is also available in theatre from coalition forces.

When patients are aeromedically evacuated to the UK, care can also be provided in Cyprus at The Princess Mary Hospital, RAF Akrotiri, if required.

Since 2001, the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, has been the main receiving unit for patients aeromedically evacuated from an operational theatre. Following clinical needs assessment at Selly Oak, if a long hospital stay is expected, patients can be transferred to a hospital closer to their home for less acute treatment, enabling them to be nearer to their family. The decision to do this is based on comparative waiting times and on convenience for the individual patient and their family.

Patients with multiple injuries including amputees and those with brain injury are transferred to Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court.

Patients with moderate or minor musculoskeletal injuries, who have been assessed and given a working diagnosis and a planned care pathway are referred to the appropriate Regional Rehabilitation Unit at: Aldershot, Bulford/Tidworth, Catterick, Colchester, Cranwell, Edinburgh, Halton, Honnington, Lichfield, Headley Court (near London), Plymouth, Portsmouth, Gütersloh (Germany) and Hohne (Germany).

Patients requiring treatment for a mental health condition are referred to one of the MOD's regional Departments of Community Mental Health at Kinloss, Leuchars, Faslane, Aldershot, Brize Norton, Catterick, Colchester, Cranwell, Marham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tidworth, Donnington, Woolwich and Lisburn, or satellite centres overseas.

Patients aeromedically evacuated from Iraq by US forces may be treated at US facilities in Ramstein, Germany, before continuing to Selly Oak for treatment in the normal way.

Personnel who are normally based in Germany and who are injured in Iraq will usually be aeromedically evacuated to the UK in the normal way. If, on subsequent return to Germany, they require follow-up treatment, they are treated at the medical facilities used by the garrisons at Mönchengladbach, Paderborn, Osnabrück, Gütersloh or Hohne.