Appendix
Extract from Gulf Veterans' Illnesses:
A New Beginning, MoD, July 1997
GULF VETERANS' ILLNESSES: TWENTY KEY POINTS
Openness and Dialogue
1. The new Government pledges that its dealings with
Gulf veterans will be open and honest. We will listen carefully
to what they have to say and engage in a dialogue. Ministers have
already held two meetings with representatives of the main Gulf
veterans groups. [Paragraph 5]
2. The Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit (GVIU) has been
established as the MoD focal point for this issue: GVIU helpline
number 0171-218-4462. [Paragraph 7]
Medical Help
3. New guidance will be issued to Service units and
to doctors to ensure that veterans are able to take advantage
of the MoD's Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). [Paragraph 9]
4. We have established new targets for the handling
of all new patients referred to the MAP. They will be sent an
appointment letter within 5 working days; and as far as possible
the date of the appointment offered shall be within 6 weeks of
the patient's referral. [Paragraph 12]
5. Additional resources are being provided for the
MAP to assist with the coding and updating of the programme's
database, with a view to publishing detailed results in late 1997.
[Paragraph 16]
6. We will undertake a full audit in the coming year,
focusing on all aspects of patient care and on the service provided,
to ensure that the MAP continues to adhere to best practice. [Paragraph
17]
7. We will work with the Department of Health to
look into the practical problems which some ill veterans face
in obtaining appropriate support or treatment after they have
left the Services. [Paragraph 19]
Research
Epidemiology
8. We will continue to fund the two epidemiological
studies which are intended to establish whether Gulf veterans
are suffering unusual ill-health. [Paragraph 27]
New MoD research into medical countermeasures
9. The new Government will fund a research programme
into the possible health effects of the combination of vaccines
and tablets which were given to troops in the Gulf to protect
them against the threat of biological and chemical warfare. The
total estimated cost of this new research programme is some £2.25
million. The allocation of these additional funds, together with
the other measures already taken by the Government since coming
into office, means that we have now doubled the resources currently
committed to the investigation of Gulf War illness. [Paragraphs
34 & 40]
10. An independent panel of scientific experts will
be appointed to oversee this new research and it will include
a member nominated by the Gulf veterans. [Paragraph 39]
11. The new research into medical countermeasures
will include tests specifically aimed at assessing the short and
long term effects of the simultaneous use of pertussis and anthrax
vaccines. [Paragraph 52]
Other research
12. The Government encourages those with interest
in this subject to submit proposals for further research work
to the MRC for consideration. [Paragraph 42]
13. We are cooperating closely with the US authorities
to ensure that the UK has full visibility of US research into
Gulf health issues. [Paragraph 44]
Organophosphate pesticides
14. Research is already underway to try to determine
the effects of low level exposure to OP pesticides in the context
of ill-health claimed by some farm workers. This will be an important
step towards understanding the possible effects of potential exposures
during the Gulf War. [Paragraph 23]
15. The Scout tents about which health concerns were
raised last month are being tested and the results will be made
public as soon as these are available. [Paragraph 25]
Provision of Information
16. The Government intends that veterans should have
access to whatever information the MoD possesses which might be
relevant to their illnesses and is determined that what can be
found will be made public. [Paragraphs 45 & 47]
17. We have already started work to prepare a full
explanation of the scientific basis on which the various medical
countermeasures were used. It will include any reservations expressed
at the time and will be published as soon as it has been completed.
[Paragraph 51]
18. We are also establishing a fact finding team
to look into the implementation of the anti-BW vaccination programme
during the Gulf War. [Paragraph 53]
19. We are also in the final stages of research into
reports of dead animals during the Gulf War. This work will be
published when it is complete. [Paragraph 61]
Financial Provision
20. The Government believes that no-fault compensation
for service personnel disabled as a result of their service must
continue to be provided under the War Pensions Scheme (WPS), under
which payments with a considerable capitalised value may be made.
In addition, Service personnel have the same right claim legal
compensation from the MoD as any other employee has against his
or her civilian employer. All such claims will be dealt with on
the basis of legal liability. If such liability is established
by future research or investigation, the MOD will of course pay
compensation. [Paragraphs 66, 69, 71-73]
14 July 1997
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