In the Media
07/10/2007 - Aid pours in for wounded soldiers
The Sunday Times -
Holly Watt
THE mission had gone horribly wrong. As the British patrol prepared to set up an observation post in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, one of the men stepped on a landmine.
As his comrades tried to help, picking their way through the minefield, a series of explosions ripped through the group, killing one and injuring another five.
Among the wounded was Stuart Pearson, a paratrooper whose left leg was blown off from the knee down by a mine. Subsequently awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal, Pearson, 32, from East Kilbride, is now gradually recovering at the Ministry of Defence's rehabilitation centre at Headley Court near Epsom, Surrey.
He and dozens of other other members of the armed forces are benefiting from the expertise in prosthetics. During his rehabilitation, Pearson is focused on his ambition to complete a full 22 years' service in the army.
Readers of The Sunday Times have so far donated nearly Pounds 40,000 of the Pounds 100,000 raised in just four days last week after the launch of Help for Heroes, a charity to raise money for causes that benefit Britain's war wounded.
Bryn Parry, a former soldier with the Royal Green Jackets who has set up Help for Heroes, said: "We're amazed and delighted by the response. It shows the British public and Sunday Times readers are completely behind the soldiers."
The first aim of the charity is to raise Pounds 5m-Pounds 8m to build a gymnasium and swimming pool at Headley Court, where 66 of the 170 beds are for what the doctors call complex traumas, which include cases of amputation.
Pearson was delighted by the appeal and by Headley Court's work. "They have got me walking again and hopefully they will give me a running leg soon as well," he said.
"It is a wonderful place but they definitely could do with funds for more facilities here. There are more and more casualties coming back from war zones like myself with limbs missing and other bad injuries. They need the staff and improved departments here to cope."
Pearson, who uses a leg called the KX06, may soon be able to upgrade to an even more sophisticated limb, the C-Leg. These are not available on the NHS because of the cost -up to Pounds 10,000 each. The computerised legs, adapted by Headley Court's technicians, are controlled using a wireless Bluetooth unit, about the size of a key fob, held in the user's pocket.
The C-Leg is made by Otto Bock HealthCare, established in Germany in 1919 to care for the country's first world war wounded. It has separate settings that enable it to change speed quickly and alter its action to mimic how a human leg walks on different terrain.
"One mode is set for a more stable response when you're walking over rough ground," said Alan Tanner, one of two prosthetists at Headley Court. "Then there's another for a smoother, more casual walk on a pavement. You can use the little keyfob in your pocket to switch to free mode if you want to cycle."
Tanner said the fact that soldiers were young and fit with a can-do attitude helped rehabilitation. "It does (make a difference) in many cases," he said. "A big percentage of these individuals, if they've lost a lower limb, regard themselves as only having a flesh wound and they just get on. They really do go through rehab quite quickly."
The technology extends to other limbs. Tanner recently fitted a soldier with a device called the iLimb, which has five motors, one for each artificial finger, giving the hand a more sophisticated grasp than the pinch of most prostheses.
More than 800 service personnel had been wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq by the end of August this year, of whom 282 were classed as seriously or very seriously injured.
There has been criticism of the level of help received by returning troops. This is confirmed by a YouGov poll this weekend for The Sunday Times in which 60% of respondents said the government had broken the "military covenant" by which it should care for troops and their families. The Royal British Legion has also been running a campaign for improved care.
The new charity's patrons are Jeremy Clarkson, the Sunday Times columnist, and his wife Francie. It also has a corporate patron, the Arkenis Group, an IT services company in Leatherhead, Surrey, which plans to raise Pounds 2.5m from businesses.
The firm became involved after directors visited Headley Court.
"We are committed to raising awareness of Headley Court in the local and business community and feel privileged to be initiating this fundraising on their behalf,"said Affi Khanbhai, chairman of Arkenis.
For coverage of veterans' issues go to www.timesonline.co.uk/micksmith
Comments
We paid for the war, so why not for its heroes?
7 October 2007
The Sunday Times
WHY is it necessary to have a charity to look after soldiers wounded while on active duty (Saving the soldiers we neglect, News and A land fit for heroes, Editorial, last week)?
It is nothing short of scandalous that these brave men, fighting in our name, are abandoned and a charity is required to pick up the pieces.
This is something that should be paid for out of taxation: if we can pay for the war with our taxes, we can surely pay to look after the victims of the conflict.
I note that the Help for Heroes first goal is to raise money for a gym and swimming pool. This week the prime minister visited Iraq with the aim of upstaging the Tory party conference. I am sure that the real cost of this political stunt would probably have paid for an Olympic-size pool.
John Locke
La Chaize-le-Vicomte, France
We paid for the war, so why not for its heroes?;Letter
7 October 2007
The Sunday Times
BAND OF BROTHERS: My son Ben Parkinson is at Headley Court, and it is as if he has come home. To see how these lads support and care for each other is truly humbling. As a family we wish every success to Help for Heroes.
Diane Dernie
Doncaster