Petition for dedicated military hospital

[NiceCupOfTea]

Just received this from a colleague of my dad who lost her first RAF husband in a plane crash. Seems like a worthwhile cause so I have signed (for all the good these online petitions seem to do).

If anybody is interested and feels the same way, please sign - not long before the deadline though.

Colleague said:

I've been asked to forward this to anyone who might be interested in signing
it. There would be great benefits for both injured servicemen and women and
the general public. We used to have a lot of military hospitals (both Matt
and Charly were born in military hospitals) but they have been closed over
recent years.
The following was sent to me...


There is a petition on the PM's website which I would like to ask you to
support.

The petition was created by Denzil Connick and reads:

'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Create a dedicated
Military & Veterans Hospital within the UK.'


This is a most important issue. RMH Haslar is set to close, but is still
operational and could be made into a great home for our injured service
personnel.



Some background: '2 Para' alone have on their current tour sent back
over 50 casualties to the UK, and even that many cannot be accommodated
at Selly Oak Hospital. So when all of the casualties from other battle
groups are added to this figure, how is ONE ward in ONE NHS hospital
going to cope? It cannot, and as a result the individual troops are sent
home to recover relying on NHS visiting services which themselves are
over committed.

• _We need a dedicated military hospital if servicemen and servicewomen,

who have been committed to hostilities and injured, are to get the
medical care they rightly deserve_*.

A lot more than 5000 names are needed for this petition to survive, and
quite cynically, *Downing Street** has put a time limit of one month -
during the summer holidays* - for this to be achieved. Please support
it - please use the link below to confirm your signature on the
petition. Please forward this email to as many people as you can. Thanks.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Wounded/

[Swilly]

signed here

[hope2421]

Done...very deserving.

[robinhood21]

Signed!

[The Black Duke]

signed

[Mr Trophy]

Signed

[Jasandjules]

Both signed.

[littlegreenfairy]

Shame they closed down the Princess Alexandra hospital near Swindon.

Top notch facilities and everything a sick person could want - now just rusting away.

[TankRizzo]

It's a real shame Haslar is closing. It's a great hospital.

[Uncle Fester]

There's been loads of such hospitals in the past. Every time the government get stuck, they nick it for the NHS.

But signed it anyway.

Edited by Uncle Fester on Friday 8th August 23:26

[randlemarcus]

By all means campaign for an increase in military focussed elements to the NHS, but there were very good reasons for closing exclusive military establishments, skills atrophy being the primary one, alongside cost.

When we arent wandering off around the world, kicking seven bells out of other countries, the requirement for these places is fairly minimal, and staff are actually better off working in busy places, with their experience rising. MoD has a finite budget, and this isnt the best place to spend it.

Sorry if that doesnt fit, but it does make infinite sense.

[EDLT]

Why can't they stay in NHS hospitals?

[rfn]

I thought Whittington Barracks was becoming the new home base for the Defence Medical Services - is this not a hospital?

[hope2421]

littlegreenfairy said:

Shame they closed down the Princess Alexandra hospital near Swindon.

Top notch facilities and everything a sick person could want - now just rusting away.

Ditto The Royal Haslar Hospital at Gosport

[leggly]

hope2421 said:

littlegreenfairy said:

Shame they closed down the Princess Alexandra hospital near Swindon.

Top notch facilities and everything a sick person could want - now just rusting away.

Ditto The Royal Haslar Hospital at Gosport

I fitted the windows in the Intensive ward at the Princess alexandra hospital. Sad to hear it's no longer used.
signed.

[thinfourth2]

randlemarcus said:

By all means campaign for an increase in military focussed elements to the NHS, but there were very good reasons for closing exclusive military establishments, skills atrophy being the primary one, alongside cost.

When we arent wandering off around the world, kicking seven bells out of other countries, the requirement for these places is fairly minimal, and staff are actually better off working in busy places, with their experience rising. MoD has a finite budget, and this isnt the best place to spend it.

Sorry if that doesnt fit, but it does make infinite sense.

Not signed as the above makes sense


Oh and that petition site is worse then useless it is nothing then a diversion for us where we believe we are making a difference but in reality all that happens is you get an e-mail a few months later from some junior party member saying you are wrong we are right go fk yourself

[ALawson]

EDLT said:

Why can't they stay in NHS hospitals?

I think its due to several reasons,

Beacuse the medical staff aren't military they cannot emphasise with the injured soldiers, airman etc.

There isn't a rigid order and discipline that there might be in a military run unit.

Having to mix with the public, some of whom due to race, colour or creed may find military people and there actions overseas objectionable and let them know directly. Not very nice if you are in a bed unable to move or defend yourself.

Secondly they have put them selves on the line to defend the UK and its interests (lets put to one side the legality of the situation that put them in the line of fire, it doesn't matter), so they deserve the best level of care available. Which in the NHS may not be available immediately.

[NiceCupOfTea]

ALawson said:

Secondly they have put them selves on the line to defend the UK and its interests (lets put to one side the legality of the situation that put them in the line of fire, it doesn't matter), so they deserve the best level of care available. Which in the NHS may not be available immediately.

This is my take on it - I think that those who put their lives on the line defending our country deserve the best level of care, and as the NHS is already overrun how are they supposed to take on board casualties from overseas conflicts?

[Munter]

NiceCupOfTea said:

ALawson said:

Secondly they have put them selves on the line to defend the UK and its interests (lets put to one side the legality of the situation that put them in the line of fire, it doesn't matter), so they deserve the best level of care available. Which in the NHS may not be available immediately.

This is my take on it - I think that those who put their lives on the line defending our country deserve the best level of care, and as the NHS is already overrun how are they supposed to take on board casualties from overseas conflicts?

Thats more of an indication of how bad the NHS is that people feel better care can be had outside it!

I do think the guys and gals in service deserve the best care. And certainly should not be subject to abuse from other people while in hospital. But I dont know if a dedicated seperate hospital is the best way. Possibly dedicated facility within another hospital would be the way.

[pies]

NiceCupOfTea said:

ALawson said:

Secondly they have put them selves on the line to defend the UK and its interests (lets put to one side the legality of the situation that put them in the line of fire, it doesn't matter), so they deserve the best level of care available. Which in the NHS may not be available immediately.

how are they supposed to take on board casualties from overseas conflicts?

Treat them in the military hospital in Gib