[PEN-L:33709] Not enough medics for Brit troops

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

A rather unfortunate detail has emerged, if in the immediate future Britain
is to help wage punitive wars alongside the USA - not enough medics.

And judging from the Gulf War syndrome saga, modern soldiers are likely to
sue even years afterwards ....

This will propel the trend towards an accountable world state, with
dedicated bodies of armed men. Only the USA can afford the complex
infrastructure to sustain a serious war. The UK is too small on its own
although it could dedicate troops on a long term planned basis as sort of
mercenaries, as could other medium sized imperialist countries.

At the moment things look a little difficult.

BMA press release below

Chris Burford
London


>      bma news: top stories Press release date: Friday, 10 Jan 2003 (BMA
> London)
>
> BMA News : 11 January 2003 Edition
>
> Please remember to credit BMA News, the membership magazine of the British
> Medical Association
>
> BMA warns of troop care crisis as call-up begins
>
> A chronic shortage of armed forces doctors could leave troops without
> adequate healthcare near the frontline in any war with Iraq, ministers
> have been told.
>
> BMA armed forces committee chairman John Ferguson warned that the shortage
> of GP regulars in the Defence Medical Services - figures published last
> year showed there were just 195 of the required 416 - could have serious
> consequences as they were based at the frontline during battles and needed
> regular military training.
>
> There are also desperate shortages in other critical specialties,
> including orthopaedic surgery and general surgery.
>
> Dr Ferguson said: 'You can't plug the gaps with civilian GPs. There's no
> way you can give GPs guns and send them to the front without full training.'
>
> Full text of story is available from Press Office

http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/PR%2Dbma+news%3A+top+stories+%2D+10+Jan+2003