Medical Assessment Programme

The Baird Medical Centre
Gassiot House
St Thomas Hospital
Lambeth Palace Road
London
SE1 7EH

Tel (helpline): 0800 169 5401
Tel: 020 7202 8323
Fax: 020 7202 8327
Web: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/MedicalAssessmentProgramme.htm
Best time to telephone: office hours.

The Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) was established in July 1993 to examine UK Gulf veterans who were concerned that their health had been adversely affected by service in the 1990/1991 Gulf conflict. Defence ministers have extended the role of the MAP in recent years to other groups of ex-service personnel so that they too may benefit from the knowledge and skills developed in assessing veterans with physical or mental health concerns. Veterans who fulfill the following criteria for eligibility and feel they would benefit from seeing a consultant with military background should seek a referral via their GP to the MAP.

The MAP offers a general medical examination for veterans of:

• The 1990/1991 Gulf war.
• The operation in Iraq (Operation TELIC).
• The operation in Afghanistan (Operation HERRICK).
• Porton Down studies.

Also offered is a mental health examination for ex-service personnel with operational service since 1982 (including veterans of the Falklands conflict).

The purpose of the MAP is:

• To assess, and attempt to understand, the physical and psychological difficulties experienced by ex-service personnel presenting to the service.
• To provide advice to individuals and health professionals about the mental and physical health of veterans in their care.
• Where possible, to provide diagnoses and management strategies for individuals and the medical and mental health professionals involved in their care.
• To collate anonymised statistical information as a resource for study of this population by authorized researchers who have obtained the appropriate ethical clearance. No information about named individuals is given to third parties without written consent from the individuals concerned.