Conflict will leave NHS short of staff

The Government is under pressure to spell out the potential threat to the health service if key personnel are called up to assist in preparing for a war against Iraq.

Military experts estimate that up to 1,000 members of the 4,829-strong Medical Reserve Corps could be called up "within weeks". But cuts to the Defence Medical Services employed by the Army, Navy, and Air Force have led to staff shortages that now must be met by the reservists – the vast majority of whom are employed by the NHS.

Charles Heyman, editor of Jane's World Armies, said it was still unclear how many people would be called up or for how long they would have to leave their NHS posts in the event of military action. "From surgeons right through to nurses, the medical reservists are absolutely essential because since 1990 the armed forces medical services have been decimated," he said.

The Defence Medical Services, according to the latest figures, have 16 general surgeons but need 44 and have only 10 out of a required 28 orthopaedic surgeons. In 2001 there were 26 consultant anaesthetists compared with an operational requirement of 120, and there were 160 GPs out of a required 398.

Government sources insist the health service will be able to cope, but one conceded: "These things are never easy. There will obviously be some difficulties."

Dr Liam Fox, the Conservative health spokesman, is to put down parliamentary questions this week to force the Government to explain the potential cuts to NHS services. "Because of the run-down of the armed services medical personnel, the effects on the NHS will be proportionately greater than in any conflict we have had to fight before," he said. "They will be relying even more heavily on NHS staff."