Army hero, Cpl Mark Wright, died because of failings of the Ministry of Defence

Army hero left to die by failings at MoD

Extract from the Sunday Telegraph:

"Last night, Bob Wright, the soldier's father, said he was furious with the Ministry of Defence, which he accused of "trying to hide the truth".

Cpl Wright, a 27-year-old paratrooper, was one of seven soldiers who became trapped in a minefield in September 2006 in Helmand, southern Afghanistan, following an operation to rescue a wounded soldier.

The report states:

• Cpl Wright died because of the non-availability of an aircraft equipped with a suitable winch

• Soldiers did not have a map of the mined area even though one was available

• Radio problems led to a communications breakdown

• Soldiers had to provide their own mine extraction kits

• The British military needs to develop its own Combat Search and Rescue capability.

At the time of the incident, the MoD made no mention of the equipment problems and claimed that Cpl Wright's injuries were so severe that he was effectively beyond medical help. But a copy of the soldier's post- mortem report, which has also been seen by this newspaper, states that the injuries were "survivable".

Last night, Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, described the findings as an appalling indictment of Labour defence policy.

"This is a catalogue of unacceptable errors," he said. "Contrary to the MoD's claims, it is clear that Cpl Wright's injuries were survivable."

Three of the soldiers who lost legs are suing the MoD for negligence. Their lawyer, Paul Harrington, who is also acting for Cpl Wright's parents, said: "There was a systemic failure by the Ministry of Defence in providing adequate resources, equipment and intelligence which led to a wholly avoidable death and serious injuries.""

More about poor treatment of UK's wounded soldiers.

We have betrayed our brave wounded - Daily Telegraph article

Extract:

"Bristol teenager Jamie Cooper was aware of the dangers he might face in Iraq when he joined the Royal Green Jackets. He knew of the car-bombs and the snipers, the roadside mortar attacks and the bloody determination of the insurgents.

What he could not have been prepared for was the careless and entirely inhumane behaviour of bureaucrats back home in Britain, who would so mistreat him once he found himself in their hands after his own stomach was ripped open by enemy fire.

What could more clearly demonstrate the folly of Blair's nightmare campaign in Iraq - his Government's immoral incapacity to imagine the reality or the true consequences of war - than that a wounded Serviceman should be abandoned on a ward with an overflowing colostomy bag?

Or that that young man should then suffer the consequences of lying on a deflated mattress, developing pressure sores and later contracting MRSA?"

Lt Gen Louis Lillywhite, the Surgeon General says he will review health care for wounded British soldiers.

Military's doctor pledges to review health care - Telegraph

Extract:

"The military's most senior doctor has pledged to review standards of care for wounded service personnel following the publication of a series of complaints about their appalling treatment on the NHS."

NHS treats wounded soldiers badly.

Wounded troops accuse NHS of 'appalling treatment' - Sunday Telegraph article

Extract:

"Troops wounded in the line of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan have made a series of complaints about the appalling treatment they have been receiving on NHS wards.

Letters sent to Ministry of Defence officials and health chiefs reveal the despair of service personnel and their families at the level of care in civilian hospitals.

One letter details how Jamie Cooper, 18, the youngest soldier wounded in Iraq, was forced to spend a night lying in his own faeces after staff allowed his colostomy bag to overflow.

On another occasion his medical air mattress was allowed to deflate, leaving him in “considerable pain” overnight despite an alarm going off, according to the letter from his parents.

Others complain of pain relief arriving hours late, wrong tablets being given out and MRSA infections. "