Who’s fighting for our soldiers’ rights?

Sep 14 2007 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

FORMER soldier told by army doctors to take painkillers for a spinal condition which has left him in a wheelchair is spearheading a new campaign to get a fair deal for injured service personnel.

Paul McClintock suffered serious injuries to his back after an accident when he fell over during an army training exercise more than a decade ago.

But he claims that it was lack of urgent military medical attention which has left him now having to use a wheelchair.

Now the Royal British Legion is set to urge Parliament to bring about change to ensure servicemen and women both past and present get the support they need.

The campaign, Honour The Covenant, will highlight aspects of the nation’s Military Covenant, or agreement, with its armed forces that the legion feels are not being delivered currently.

If the campaign is successful, families of servicemen and women who have since died may also be eligible for a compensation pay out. Mr McClintock, 33, from Consett, County Durham, injured his back in a fall during an army training exercise in 1996 and after being assessed by a military doctor he was told to take some painkillers. It wasn’t until an MRI scan two years later that he was diagnosed with spinal condition lumber spondylosis which had since passed a stage where it could be operated on.

Mr McClintock, who served as a rifleman with the 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets in Bosnia, believes that had the injury been properly diagnosed he would be able to walk properly again. He is angry that the army wouldn’t pay for a wheelchair for him and claims they “washed their hands of him” after his injury.

He said: “I joined the army to help the country and I can’t believe the way I was treated. My plan was to stay for my entire career. This campaign is to try and make the armed forces open up to what’s going wrong with the support for injured soldiers. We are not getting looked after. When I was injured they didn’t believe me for two years and when they did find out, it was too late.”

It was down to the Royal British Legion that Mr McClintock was able to access a specialist wheelchair after they agreed with the army that they would pay half the cost.

Mr McClintock, who was previously paid as little as £100-a-month from his war pension, also won a tribunal earlier this year which increased his monthly funds to £419. He also survives on incapacity benefits.

“When I had my accident they didn’t belive me one bit,” he added. “But when they discovered something was wrong it was too late. As soon as they had released me they didn’t want to know anything else about me.

“I had no-where to live and I didn’t have a job and I couldn’t work properly because my back was injured. The British Legion have done nothing but help me and without them then I would have nothing.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We cannot comment on individual cases so we cannot respond to these allegations in detail. The wellbeing and the safety of our people are a top priority for defence ministers, the MoD and the Government. Therefore we welcome the RBL’s campaign to encourage debate about the obligations owed by the nation to members of the armed forces, their families and veterans.”

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Three ways to repay sacrifices paid by many

THE Royal British Legion’s Honour the Covenant campaign is three-pronged, demanding:

• A compensation scheme recognising the commitment and sacrifices made by those serving the nation;

• Greater commitment to support the physical and mental health of service personnel and their families;

• More support for bereaved service families.

Speaking at the launch, Frances Done, director general of the Royal British Legion, said: “We believe the nation has failed to live up to its commitments under the Covenant, with the consequence that some people have been left to struggle alone once they leave the services. Charities such as the legion are increasingly called upon to fill the gap.”

The legion is making these recommendations:

• The onus should be put on the Government to prove that the service was not responsible for causing or worsening an injury or illness;

• For those who have suffered multiple injuries, the Government to compensate for each and every injury sustained;

• Removal of the time limit for compensation claims.

In response to the launch Armed Forces’ Minister, Bob Ainsworth, said: “I do not believe that the covenant is broken and, having spoken to the military Chiefs, nor do they. But making sure that the covenant is upheld, particularly when we are asking our people to do so much, is very important.”