The MOD collates statistics of personnel evacuated from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) located at University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust (UHBFT) which is the main receiving hospital trust for service personnel who are medically evacuated from overseas. In the period 1 April until 30 September 2007 RCDM had admitted 197 UK service patients from Iraq and 222 UK service patients from Afghanistan to UHBFT and other NHS hospitals in the Birmingham area. The figures relate to patients aeromedically evacuated from theatre as a result of battle injuries, non-battle injuries and disease. They do not include patients being reviewed or returning for further surgery following earlier treatment in the UK. The breakdown of these figures is set out as follows:
Iraq Afghanistan Battle field injuries 88 111 Non-battle field injuries 70 59 Disease 39 52 Total 197 222
Other less seriously injured patients may be seen at other NHS facilities, but no central records are held and accurate information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, on average, the total number of military in-patients in NHS hospitals across the UK is, typically, about 60 to 75 for all illnesses and injuries, however sustained.
The MOD does not normally use the NHS for treatment of psychological injuries. Military patients suffering from psychological injuries are treated either by mental health professionals deployed in theatre or at one of 15 MOD Military Departments of Community Mental Health or, for those requiring in-patient treatment, at private facilities under contract from the Priory Group.
I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in response to the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) on 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 27.