BMJ  2007;335:364-365 (25 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.39314.514734.DB

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Charities say UK government must do more to help soldiers returning from battle

London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The Royal British Legion will launch a campaign next month to urge the UK government to take better care of soldiers and their families, who are feeling the strains of repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Several military charities and associations say that inadequate housing, a shortfall in compensation for injury, and delays in inquests into soldiers' deaths are a breach of the "military covenant," which guarantees fair treatment to soldiers in exchange for the sacrifice of their civilian rights.

Robert Lee, a spokesman for the charity, said that the campaign will focus on inquests into soldiers' deaths; medical surveillance of troops and their dependants; access to NHS care for discharged personnel; and care of wounded soldiers.

"Battlefield care hasn't been flagged as a major issue for us," he said, "but the returning wounded need help with many daily activities, and right now a lot of that—too much in our . . . [Full text of this article]

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