Written question asked by Andrew Murrison (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 December 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 December 2007. It was answered by Derek Twigg (Labour) on Monday, 14 January 2008 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Armed Forced: Prosthetics

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with the Department of Health to discuss the ongoing care of armed forces veterans with C-leg limb prostheses.

Answer: The Defence Medical Services attach a high priority to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition of care upon medical discharge, including for those service personnel with prostheses such as C-leg limbs (an advanced lower-leg prosthetic). Officials are currently working with their NHS counterparts and Department of Health officials to address the feasibility of establishing relationships with a small number of NHS facilities that could offer a service to veterans comparable to that provided to serving members by the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court. Two such centres have been visited to date and their response has been very positive. Further visits are planned in the coming months, after which detailed procedures will be drawn up to enable veterans to access these regional centres if they so wish. The Department is also engaged in similar discussions with the devolved administrations.

Secondary information