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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) RAF pilots and aircrew, (b) Army flying personnel and (c) Royal Naval pilots and personnel have suffered from (i) deep vein thrombosis and (ii) pulmonary embolisms in the last five years; and how many were known by his Department to have suffered within 14 days of flying activities. [147192] Dr. Moonie: [holding answer 29 January 2001]: Central records maintained by my Department do not identify illness where it has not resulted in medical downgrading for a significant period. They may, therefore, not record cases of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolisms. In fact, these records show one case of a pulmonary embolism from 1999. The individual concerned was also suffering from a serious illness, which may have been the cause of the pulmonary embolism. Neither the Royal Navy nor the RAF maintain additional collated records, and further information on their personnel could be obtained only by checking medical records individually. A collated Army record is, however, maintained. This shows two Army aircrew who have suffered deep vein thrombosis within the last five years, one of whom also suffered a pulmonary embolism. Neither had been engaged in military flying duties within the previous 14 days, but both had been passengers on a commercial aircraft within that period.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

368 c197-8W; 147192

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Aviation Army Deep vein thrombosis Air force Crew Health hazards Navy Cardiovascular system Pulmonary embolism

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk