All news on this page courtesy of the The Telegraph Newspaper, London, UK

DATE 13/May/1997

By Tim Butcher, Defence Correspondent

A MILITARY doctor has been appointed to work full-time assessing illnesses suffered by veterans of the Gulf war, reflecting the emphasis placed on the issue by the Labour Government.

The Medical Assessment Programme, set up in 1993 for Gulf veterans, was being run on a rota by a number of military doctors. But a permanent consultant physician will now work alongside a civilian medical specialist being sought by the Ministry of Defence. Advertisements were placed last month in medical magazines. The Government hopes that, with these added resources, the backlog of 300 veterans still waiting to take part in the programme will soon be reduced.

The appointments are connected with the programme of proposals on Gulf health problems that was announced late on Sunday by Dr John Reid, the new Armed Forces minister. Although scientific research has not proved the existence of a single syndrome, Dr Reid's announcement marks a significant change of attitude within the MoD, which could lead to compensation payments to sick veterans. The proposals include an undertaking for the MoD to publish more information on veterans' health, to invite veterans for direct talks with senior ministers and to carry out more research into Gulf health problems.

Dr Reid described the proposals yesterday as "a start, not the end". He held out the possibility of interim compensation payments for veterans, many of whom are near to death. "I wanted within days of going into the Ministry of Defence to make clear that this was a priority for us, that we would be as open as possible, and that we would leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of it," he said.

Earlier this year the defence select committee published a report which suggested that interim compensation payments should be considered without any admission of fault or liability. Dr Reid said he hoped by mid-June to respond to the report.

Two large epidemiological studies, commissioned for £3 million by the Tory government, will continue. But Dr Reid said additional research would be commissioned.

The Medical Assessment Programme was set up in 1993 after claims by veterans that illnesses including neurological problems, nausea and dizziness were caused by service in the Gulf. Though no single cause was identified, culprits suggested include the pesticides to which soldiers were exposed and the vaccines given to protect troops from attack by chemical and biological weapons.