Kit shortage 'cost Lothian soldier leg'

Published on Saturday 17 January 2004 00:00

A LOTHIAN soldier shot in Iraq had to have his leg amputated because of a lack of essential surgical equipment, it emerged today.

The Ministry of Defence has launched an investigation into the case of Sergeant Albert Thomson, from Whitburn, who was wounded after a fellow soldier’s machine gun went off accidentally.

Medics were forced to amputate his left leg above the knee after it was claimed they had not been issued with basic vascular repair kits which could have saved his limb.

The case increases the pressure on Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon amid the growing row over the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts, a tank commander who was shot dead after he had been told to hand back his body armour.

Sgt Thomson, 35, who was serving in Iraq with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, was hit by gunfire from a Warrior armoured personnel carrier two weeks before the end of the war.

Mr Thomson’s mother-in-law, Heather Mullen, told how her daughter Michelle had been left devastated by the news that lack of supplies could have been to blame for her husband’s amputation.

She said: "This has made the whole family very angry. We’ve been hearing for ages that the troops don’t get enough equipment.

"It’s bad enough worrying what can happen to them over there without having to worry about whether they have the right stuff. These men risk their lives for their country, they should at least have the best equipment."

The case was highlighted during an evidence session of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, after a whistle-blowing Army officer raised the issue with Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock.

The officer heard of the case from the consultant anaesthetist involved in the amputation, who was said to be deeply upset.

Mr Hancock, who represents the constituency of Portsmouth South, claimed it was "shameful" that front-line soldiers and medics had not received access to proper equipment.

"Doctors claimed that if they had better equipment they may have been able to do more for him," he added.

"Most well-equipped military field hospitals would have a vascular repair kit and a young man may not have lost his leg if they had the right kit.

"Saying sorry isn’t good enough if you’ve lost a leg."

Mr Hancock also has spoken to soldiers who didn’t have enough bullets for their guns and respirators that were "15 years out of date".

He added: "There was potential here for lots of soldiers to have died if we had taken heavy casualties.

"The Ministry of Defence seems to have taken a huge gamble that we would not face stiff opposition."

Surgeon Vice-Admiral Ian Jenkins told a recent meeting of the committee that the repair kits "should be available" to surgical teams in war zones.

Linlithgow MP Tam Dalyell, an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, said he was alarmed at the news. He said: "If Sgt Thomson or his relatives were to approach me, all I can say at the moment is that I would take this extremely seriously."

Linlithgow MSP, Mary Mulligan, whose constituency includes Whitburn, added: "I’m obviously very concerned to hear about Sgt Thomson’s ordeal and I will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of any inquiry by the Ministry of Defence."

A spokeswoman for the MoD said: "We have already acknowledged that we are investigating kit shortages in Iraq and we were doing so before this issue was raised. The Surgeon General has requested further details on this case so that a further investigation can be launched."

Sgt Thomson, who has a two-year-old son, has now been fitted with a plastic limb.

He also served as part of the A Company Royal Highland Fusiliers in Kosovo in 1999 and was among 800 Scots soldiers who spent Christmas 1994 serving in Bosnia.

Meanwhile, Mr Hoon has hinted that he may resign after the publication of the findings of the Hutton Inquiry.

He said: "I accept that there is an issue, but I am content to await the outcome of the various investigations, not least the Hutton Report, and obviously to make decisions in the light of whatever is said."