Chair of the Cross Party Group on Armed Forces and Cadets, Darren Millar, has called for urgent action to deal with current regulations that de-register serving troops from GP lists.
The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2004 states that Local Health Boards should remove a patient from the contractor’s list when it receives notification that the patient is in Her Majesty’s Forces.
It also states a patient should be removed if they are sentenced to two or more years in prison.
Clywd West AM Darren Millar said: “This regulation is a slap in the face for our armed troops, who do an incredible job in very difficult circumstances.
“Serving soldiers are automatically being de-registered, while criminals being sentenced to less than two years are allowed to keep their GP.
“While fighting for Queen and country results in losing your doctor at home, breaking your country’s laws may not.
“This cannot be allowed to continue”.
Shadow Health Minister Andrew RT Davies said: “The health implications of de-registering our troops cannot be underestimated.
“Veterans have complained that it can have a detrimental impact on identifying Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is not acceptable and we must be in a position to give our ex-services personnel the very best medical care available.
“At the moment, this is simply not the case in Wales.”
