(2) how many members of the Territorial Army who have completed tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan have sought psychiatric assistance following demobilisation; what medical support services are provided by the armed forces to members of the Territorial Army on demobilisation; and by what means the Government monitors the health of Territorial Army members following demobilisation.
I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
As of 4 April 2007, there were around 280 Territorial Army (TA) personnel deployed in Iraq and around 260 in Afghanistan. This excludes members of the TA deployed on full-time reserve service.
We estimate that since March 2003 over 10,000 members of the TA have served in Iraq the basis of on mobilisation figures, but exact data is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We estimate on a similar basis that since May 2006 around 450 members of the TA have served in Afghanistan. Data for service in Afghanistan during the preceding years are unavailable.
Members of the regular Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines have access to a wide range of medical and dental services at all times when they are not on operational deployment overseas. The range of services can be summarised as follows:
Primary Medical Care;
Regional Rehabilitation Services;
Dental Services (including dental hygiene);
Secondary Medical Care at the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT) where the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) is based, at NHS hospitals hosting Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) and other NHS hospitals when required;
Rehabilitation Services provided by the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Headley Court;
Community and In-patient Mental Health Services.