The prime minister has defended the policy of treating soldiers within the NHS after a MP claimed they should be cared for in a military hospital. Conservative Peter Viggers, MP for Gosport, told Tony Blair during prime ministers questions the current system was not working.
He asked Mr Blair if he would retain the Royal Haslar Hospital, in Gosport, which is allegedly currently underused.
Mr Blair said it was "quite wrong" to criticise NHS treatment of soldiers.
'Difficult circumstances'
In response to the MP's question, the prime minister said: "I have said, and I believe it is right, that it is important that our soldiers, particularly those who are wounded in battle, are looked after to the best possible extent.
"The use that is made of NHS specialist services is important in that, but they should be in an environment in which they feel comfortable.
"We will look to make sure that that is the case but I think it would be quite, quite wrong for people to criticise the NHS and the way they have looked after these people because I know the staff there are doing their level best in difficult circumstances."
The exchange follows recent media reports that 5,000 soldiers are waiting for treatment on the NHS, while the Royal Hospital Haslar is vastly underused.
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