The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
relationships
with the local planning authority, enabled us just to keep ahead of
the
surge. A
close run thing, I think, but we kept ahead of the
surge.”
85.
The second
risk area was the building itself:
“Headley
Court is a fine listed building, which had in essence for many
years treated
sports
injuries, complex sports injuries, but not open wounds. What we
have started
doing in
this conflict is starting rehabilitation ever earlier, with
significant success.
But it
posed risk in the type of surroundings that they were being managed
in, in that
Headley
Court was not set up to look after cases that were open wounds or
complex
medication
that required ongoing non-rehabilitation specialist
care.”52
86.
The Inquiry
visited Headley Court in October 2010, and spoke to a number
of
members of
staff and Iraq veterans. Members of staff told the Inquiry that it
would be
helpful if
they were given more forewarning about deliberate operations with
potential for
high
casualties.
87.
In early
October 2006, Gen Dannatt directed Major General Mark Mans,
the
Deputy
Adjutant General (DAG), to lead an assessment of in-Service welfare
provision
to see
where improvements could be made.53
Gen Dannatt
directed that the assessment
should
include discussions with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families
Association
(SSAFA) on
bringing back SSAFA Social Workers.
88.
Maj Gen Mans
replied to Gen Dannatt on 30 November, recommending
that
he should:
•
invite the
SSAFA to:
{{provide
short-stay hostels for families at Selly Oak and Headley
Court;
{{provide
additional support for vulnerable Service leavers;
{{provide
enhanced support for Service parents of children with
disabilities
and special
needs; and
{{provide
enhanced adoption services;
•
enhance the
current Army Welfare Service (AWS) structure with additional
Civil
Service
Social Workers and Welfare Workers; and
•
invite
DCDS(Personnel) to organise a “wide-ranging, tri-Service,
Ministerially-
led”
conference to increase understanding of welfare and healthcare
support to
the
ex-Service community.
89.
Maj Gen Mans
advised that the AWS, like the rest of the Army, was “running
hot”.
The “heavy
burden” of operational commitments and increased casualties had led
to
a 20
percent increase in the AWS’s workload over the past year. Using
Civil Service
(rather
than SSAFA) Social Workers would give the AWS access to an
established and
52
Public
hearing, 20 July 2010, pages 40-41.
53
Minute DAG
to CGS, 30 November 2006, ‘Welfare and Aftercare’.
54