asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, as part of the Managed Military Health System for Force Generation project, they will reaffirm the entitlement of all veterans to continue to receive, on discharge or retirement, care and rehabilitation at military units and Ministry of Defence hospital units, for injuries or illnesses incurred in the course of service.[HL7542]

The aims of the Managed Military Health System for Force Generation project (MMHS) are to:

maximise the number of Armed Forces personnel fit-for-task;

contribute to deployed medical operational capability; and

improve morale in the Defence Medical Services (DMS).

With regard to veterans, on leaving the Armed Forces, or on demobilisation for reservists, it is the long-established practice that responsibility for medical care passes to the NHS. This has been the case since 1948 under successive Governments. The MMHS project will not change this.

War pensioners are, however, entitled to priority NHS treatment for their accepted disablements. This arrangement has been in place since 1953 when Ministry of Pensions’ hospitals were transferred to the NHS. Priority is decided by the clinician in charge and is based on clinical need. Regular reminders of the provision are sent out by the NHS Executive to trusts and clinicians.

Under the war pensions scheme the department has a discretionary power to meet the cost of any necessary expenses in respect of the medical, surgical or rehabilitative treatment of ex-members of the Armed Forces that arise wholly or mainly as a result of the disablement due to service before 6 April 2005, where it is not provided for under other legislation of the United Kingdom.