Medical Discharge

[Runaway Gun]

Can anybody please provide some recommendation on who to contact, regarding the checking of Medical Pensions?

I've noticed quite an increase in the number of servicemen/women suddenly being discharged, whereas in the past they would have had better medical care and returned to work. I can only assume that this relates to the current military cutbacks, however seeing medical care delayed for very long periods of time, and then being discharged because of the length of time off sick, seems a cruel and underhanded way to go about it.

Call me cynical but I'm not trusting the RAF to provide me with the correct pension amounts, so I wish to source an outside agency to confirm what I am entitled to.

[Spit the Dog]

Forces Pension Society - Fighting for the Forces and their Families (http://www.forpen.co.uk) The Forces Pension Society. Money well spent if you join.

[Whenurhappy]

RG,

Do I understand you correctly - are the RAF denying/delaying medical treatment for SP? Again, excuse my interest - but is this in your case or do you beleive that this is wide spread?

If this is so, this is truely shocking!

[SirPeterHardingsLovechild]

Whenurhappy

A small slice of my sob story (fetch the tissues)

With knee and ankle injuries I was disqualified from fast track treatment as 'no single procedure would get me back to operational duties'

At the mercy of the NHS (as we closed our Military Hospitals) I was on waiting lists for appointments.

The NHS 18 week guideline is now used (predictably) as a 'we don't have to do anything for 18 weeks'

Eventually seeing the orthapaedic consultant about my knee, I asked him to examine my ankle. But my SMO referal only said knee, so I had to return to the SMO to go back onto another 18 weeks for my ankle.

This is because the PCT funds the Hospital on referals

When I saw the same consultant about my ankle, 18 weeks later, he admitted he was just knees, and refered me to his colleague, another 18 weeks.

Then I tested positive for MRSA and was refused admission, by the hospital that gave me it....

And before you know it, 2 years are up (18 months for aircrew) and Medical Discharge occured.

However. Redundancy was in the air, and Medical Discharge was by far the better option. I was surprised and delighted that they didn't notice they could have kicked me out for half the price. Incompetence worked in my favour.

[Whenurhappy]

Sir Peter's offspring:

the Redundancy Boards are obliged to look at possible medical discharges if it is the more financially advantageous option to the SP. I know, hard to believe, but it's true.

In your case, why was the PCT funding your hospital care, rather than the MOD?

Two years ago I was diagnosed with a suspect tumour whilst serving abroad. I was back in the UK the following day and operated on within three weeks, and I return for regular checkups. There has been absolutely no problems on the medical care side at an MDHU (where I believe that we are treated as private patients) - the problems have been persuading clerks 800 km away that I don't need a medevac flight to Birmingham (having had to get myself to Hanover ffs!) for the check-ups and that a night's subsistence should be paid as I have to be fasted for 12 hours beforehand. Admittedly I don't spend much on food!

[SirPeterHardingsLovechild]

I was a Ground Engineer on Continuance, I would have been exempt from redundancy. I was already a sick note in Eng Ops when I made a tactical error and out of loyalty, allowed them to make my internal posting official, so that my old section could replace me. I lost my crew pay, and was now vulnerable for redundancy.

By then, I had taken out a civil suit for negligence, and I would not make any more mistakes.

They could have given me 6 months notice, but my Med Discharge was in the post before they could start the ball rolling.

But it gets better. As my civil case progressed, the MoD solicitors admitted liability but stated that my medical treatment was negligent. My solicitor/barrister told me that this forced us to serve a suit on the NHS. (Now withdrawn) No mistakes anymore.

Whenurhappy - the NHS Primary Care Trust - Secondary Care funding is standard. They require a referal from your SMO/GP for the first tick in the funding box

Runaway Gun, I can help you, but I'm afraid you will have to answer quite a few questions.