UK hospitals ‘overwhelmed’ with Afghan war wounded

A UK watchdog has warned that medical facilities treating British troops wounded in Afghanistan are under growing pressure.

A study from the National Audit Office (NAO) in its report on military healthcare said that casualties were overwhelming hospitals and rehab centers, Mail Online reported Wednesday.

It added that the facilities — including two major treatment centers in Britain and the main field hospital in Afghanistan — may not be able to cope with the increasing number of admissions in the long run.

More than 130 British soldiers were seriously injured in Afghanistan in the first ten months of 2009. That’s more than double the number of those injured in the whole of 2008.

The watchdog’s warning comes against the backdrop of the upcoming launch of the US-led NATO forces’ biggest anti-Taliban sweep on record.

Around 4,000 British troops are to take part in the offensive in Helmand Province.

Senior defense officials say the operation will inevitably lead to more dead and wounded UK troopers.