Lawyer Urges Panel To Consider Long-Term Needs

Views on how the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) should assess injuries, ill-health or death can now be submitted online or by e-mail both by military personnel and members of the public.

The views will be taken into account as part of a widespread and thorough review into the scheme, which is being chaired by Admiral The Lord Boyce former chief of the defence staff.

He will also chair an independent scrutiny group that will support the review, and said: "I welcome this public engagement as a key part of the review into the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

"It is important that the review seeks views from all parties. Engaging widely is a right and proper step, and it will enable me to make the best recommendations to the Defence Secretary about the future of the scheme."

The group includes representatives from service and ex-service organisations, families, widows associations, a beneficiary of the scheme and medical and legal experts.

Andrew Buckham, a member of law firm Irwin Mitchell’s Armed Forces claim team, represented Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson and continues to campaign for better compensation for injured members of the armed forces. He said: “We welcome this independent review which we hope will look at how to better meet the needs of injured servicemen and women.

“Although significant changes have been made to the AFCS since it was first introduced in 2005 it is still evident from cases such as Ben’s that the maximum sum of £570,000 is insufficient to meet the long terms needs of severely injured soldiers.

“We would urge the review panel to consider not only the financial needs of injured soldiers but also their long term rehabilitation and care needs.”

If you've suffered an injury as a result of a military accident you might be entitled to claim compensation. See our Military Claims page for more details.