Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 12 March 2009. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 19 March 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Prosthetics: Armed Forces

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how National Health Service budgets for (a) supply and (b) maintenance of prosthetics for former service personnel are allocated.

Answer: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders, including practice based commissioners, local government and the public to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of prosthetic services for former service personnel.The current operating framework for the national health service requires commissioners to take account of military personnel, their families and veterans when commissioning services in their area. It is anticipated that those who use prostheses leaving the armed services to the NHS will be in single figures per year. The NHS will need to provide prosthetic maintenance to a service veteran that is equivalent to that previously enjoyed while the individual was serving and this is clinically appropriate.

Secondary information