House of Commons - Public Accounts

Select Committee on Public Accounts Thirty-Sixth Report

2 PROVIDING SUPPORT AND HEALTHCARE TO RESERVES

6. In the survey of Reservists conducted by the National Audit Office, of the 16% who said that they intend to leave within the next year, 41% agreed that inadequate support played a part in their decision to leave.[14] The Department accepted that more needed to be done to support Reservists and their families, but said that there had been significant improvements in recent times, such as a new remuneration package for Reservists and employers.[15] Some families are not aware of the likelihood of the Reservist being called out. The possibility of being deployed was made very clear at the time of recruitment, but the Department did not see it as its job to manage the relationships between a Reservist and their family or employer.[16]

7. The results of the National Audit Office survey show that the most used form of support is the Reservist's unit, but not all units have dedicated full time staff for this role, although the Army is starting to provide additional resources. However, problems remain for the families who live a long way from the unit especially those of Regular Reserves.[17] The amount of support has increased in recent years but communication still remains a problem with limited awareness of what is available.[18] There are examples of good practice at the local level, such as helping families of deploying Reservists to form their own informal support networks.[19] The Department also confirmed that welfare support is available on a tri-Service basis. For example families of Reservists at the Territorial Army centre in Portsmouth would be able to make use of the extensive facilities provided for the Royal Navy.[20]

8. Reservists who have been injured on operations remain "mobilised" and continue to receive their military salaries and allowances whilst they are treated at military medical centres. The Department has introduced a fast-track system to treat Regulars who are required to be deployed on operations, but it is not available to Reservists who may need to return quickly to their civilian jobs. The Department has, however, undertaken to provide improved access to diagnosis and treatment for Reservists and is considering whether to increase the capacity of existing services.[21] The Department pointed to the success of returning Reservists to their civilian lives. Of 127 Reservists undergoing treatment at the time of the hearing, 66 were expected still to be undergoing treatment after three months and around 20 remaining in the military system after six months. Those injured Reservists who choose to leave military service because they prefer to live at home will get their treatment from the National Health Service.[22]

9. For mental health problems the situation has been less clear. The results of research conducted by King's College, sponsored by the Department, were published in The Lancet on 16 May 2006. This showed that a higher proportion of Reservists displayed mental health problems as a result of service in the 2003 Iraq war than the Regulars who served or those Reservists who did not deploy.[23] Problems arising from traumatic experiences may not emerge straight after the conflict, yet prior to the hearing the Department did not offer diagnosis and treatment of Reservists' mental health problems after demobilisation. Such care has been left to the National Health Service, which has limited expertise in dealing with problems from armed conflicts.[24]

10. On 16 May 2006, the Secretary of State for Defence announced that mental health assessments were to be offered to Reservists who have been demobilised since January 2003. The Department has since announced, on 21 November 2006, the start of the Reserves Mental Health Programme. Reservists will be able to receive treatment from the military medical authorities, except where their condition is found to be complicated or intractable when Reservists will be referred back to their General Practitioner.[25] Demobilised Reservists can access this system by calling a freephone number, and the Army website also provides details of the programme.



© Parliamentary copyright 2007	Prepared 12 July 2007