Independent medical expert team to advise on Armed Forces compensation

The Ministry of Defence has committed to implementing in full all the recommendations given by the Review of the Scheme, which was published in February 2010.

As the Review acknowledged, detailed work is required to translate the Review’s recommendations into legislation. The first step is the formation of an interim independent medical expert group, which will advise on the levels of compensation for the specific injuries, illnesses and diseases highlighted in the Review.

The group will be made up of senior consultants from various medical specialties, including trauma and orthopaedics, neurology, occupational medicine, and mental health. The MOD’s senior medical adviser to the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel) will also be a member of the group.

Three lay members will also be appointed to the group: one from Service/ex-Service Organisations on the MOD’s Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation (CAC), one from the in-Service representatives on the CAC, and an injured serving person who has claimed under the Scheme. The group will also be able to draw on other expert advice when needed.

The MOD will investigate issues and draw up evidence-based proposals for the group to consider, which will give advice on those proposals. The advice of the group, and the MOD’s decisions in relation to it will be published together on the MOD website.

Veterans Minister Kevan Jones said:

“The MOD and the Government are fully committed to bringing the Review’s recommendations in as quickly as possible, and the formation of this group is a crucial step towards getting those recommendations turned into results.

“This independent group will be able to give expert medical advice on a range of injuries and conditions, and the level of compensation that should be awarded for them. This is just the first step into putting all of the Review’s recommendations into effect to make sure we provide the best compensation possible for our personnel.”

The following individuals will form this interim group:

Chairman: Professor Sir Anthony Newman Taylor CBE, FRCP, FFOM, FMedSci

Expert Members: Professor David Alexander MA(Hons) C.Psychol PhD FBPS FRSM(Hon) FRCPsych; Professor Linda Luxon FRCP; Dr John Scadding MD FRCP; Dr David Snashall MSc FRCP FFOM LLM; and, Professor James Ryan OStJ, MB, BCh, BAO (NUI), FRCS (Eng), MCh (NUI), Hon FCEM, DMCC(SoA), RAMC(V)

MOD’s Senior Medical Adviser to the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel): Dr Anne Braidwood CBE MRCP MRCGP.

Lay Members: Lt Col Jerome Church MBE, General Secretary British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association (BLESMA), member of the CAC, representing the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations (COBSEO); Col Robin Vickers, Army Pay Colonel, representing the three single Service members on the CAC; and, Col David Richmond, a serving member of the Armed Forces who suffered an AK47 bullet wound that shattered his femur in Afghanistan in June 2008 while he was Commanding Officer of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS).