GREATER MANCHESTER HOSPITALS HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER VETERANS HAVE RECEIVED PRIORITY TREATMENT - ALCOCK

8.47.55pm GMT Fri 15th Jan 2010

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The Government's scheme for giving war veterans priority NHS treatment is being ignored by most Greater Manchester hospitals according to research from the Liberal Democrats.

A Freedom of Information request sent to all acute trusts and PCTs in Greater Manchester showed that only 3 out of 16 even had a system for recording cases - and they hadn't actually recorded any. The others had no system in place, with Royal Bolton NHS Trust admitting that they hadn't done so as they were still awaiting guidance from the MOD.

Liberal Democrat MP Andrew Stunell has challenged Health Minister Mike O'Brien in the Commons to tighten up the scheme and make sure veterans get the treatment they deserve from the NHS.

Commenting, Shadow Liberal Democrat MP for Oldham West & Royton including Chadderton, Mark Alcock in supporting Lib Dem MP Andrew Stunell, said:

"The pathetic answers from the PCTs show the Government's veterans' treatment scheme is more spin than substance. If none of our local trusts have any idea whether any veterans have benefited from this, how can we be sure it is working at all? No wonder the Royal British Legion says it isn't effective.

"These are people who have put their lives on the line for this country, many who live in Oldham Borough. They deserve more than meaningless spin from Labour.

"The Minister promised Andrew that he would act urgently to ensure that this scheme really is delivering for the brave men and women across Greater Manchester who have risked their lives on our behalf. The Ministers words are welcome, but now let's see some real action for the veterans across Oldham Borough and the North West."