Military Families Blog

ARMY'S PARCEL FORCE TAKES UP ARMS FOR HOSPITAL

21-08-2007

Royal Mail has caved in to pressure and agreed to provide a free parcel service for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Campaigners included the Midlands based Military Families Support Group, and now founder Carol Jones explains their next objective - a dedicated hospital for injured troops instead of Selly Oak.

Hello all 'Stirrer' readers.

My name is Carol Jones, I help run the Military FamilySupport Group.My son Sgt John Jones - a real Brummie like me - was killed in Basra on the 20th November 2005.

I was asked by Sue Smith from Tamworth, whose son Philip had been killed in Iraq to help her run the Military Families Support Group (MFSG) website.

I was a bit hesitant at first as I was devastated over John's death.

I knew nothing about the Army, as John never talked about it. If I ever asked him what he was doing or where he was going I was told not to ask questions. But after thinking about it I said "yes".

I could have sat about crying all day but what was the point, it wouldn't bring my lad back.

I have learned such a lot in the last 20 months, enough I think to write a book, but on my first day with The Stirrer, I would like to start with Selly Oak Hospital.

I was first asked to go there by the Fusiliers to visit the soldier who was in the snatch vehicle with John.

Once again I was very hesitant not knowing what I was going to see.It turned out thathe had lost an arm and hadserious injuries. When I got there we didn't have to speak, I gave him a hug and a kiss and from that day we have been good friends , even though he's a Liverpool supporter and we're Villans.

While we were talking I noticed he was in a mixed ward - men and women, soldiers and civilians.

I couldn't believe my eyes. How could they treat these men like this? Their injuries were bad enough, suffering flash backs and post traumatic stress - but now they were being staredat as is they were out of another world.

I visited on a number of occasions, only to find the same situation.

John's friend left Selly Oak to go to Headley Court, a re-hab hospital down South and the next time I went there was with Sue on behalf of the MFSG.

We took chocolates, which were given to us by Cadbury's, and fruit which was bought out of the MFSG funds. I noticed nothing had changed.

In one bay there were 6 amputees, in the next bay, elderly women who had people visiting and just staring at the troops as if they were in a zoo. I was disgusted.

Security was also an issue. On two occasions I entered the ward without being asked who I was.

Now our lads are contracting MRSA as well.

Surely if they were in a military hospital visiting could be controlled and people told to use gowns and put the cream on their hands.

We (the MFSG) left letters on the soldiers' tables explaining what help we could offer - but as soon as we turned our backs they were collected and thrown away.

We have now been told we cannot visit anymore. WHY???

144 soldiers returned from Afghanistan recently, now we are told Selly Oak cannot cope with the numbers.

I have to say I told you so!!!

More from Carol next week. In the meantime, donate to the Military Families Support Group at http://www.mfsg.org.uk/