Lance Corporal Connick, 51, who lost a leg while fighting the Argentinian army, has launched a Downing Street petition.

Some 91,000 people, including fellow Falklands casualty Simon Weston, have already backed the veteran in his quest. The ex-paratrooper said: “It is absolutely vital we have a dedicated military hospital in the UK.”

Mr Connick had his leg blown off during the bloody battle of Mount Longdon in 1982.

At the time there were eight military hospitals in the UK and he received specialist treatment.

Mr Connick, who has two sons, both in the armed forces, fears current and future soldiers will suffer more and more.

He said: “The staff at Selly Oak do a good job but you need specialist training to deal with specialist injuries. The MoD has so much land around the country that a dedicated hospital could be built.

“Why not in the Midlands or near one of the RAF bases such as Brize Norton in Oxfordshire?

“Then they could be flown in straight to a hospital.”

Mr Connick, from Blackwood, in south Wales, has suffered post traumatic stress disorder since the Falklands War.
He said: “There are hundreds if not thousands of soldiers who suffer mentally after wars.”

And he added: “It is not just the guys who are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan that need the ongoing treatment.

“There are veterans from the Falklands War and beyond who still need medical treatment.”

Conservative MP Patrick Mercer, who was treated at Haslar for spinal injuries he sustained serving in Northern Ireland, has backed the Hospital for Heroes Crusade.

He said: “I have no doubt they are getting first-class treatment under the NHS but they need to be together in specialist ­hospitals.”

And Mr Weston, who suffered horrific burns when the supply ship Sir Galahad was bombed, said: “If you have a dedicated military hospital it makes the servicemen and women feel like the country and Government care about
them and they are not being taken for granted.”

Lib Dem defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: “This country has a duty of care to all our servicemen and women who risk the ultimate sacrifice.”

** Do you have a story to tell about Britain’s shameful medical treatment of its war heroes? If you do, please join our Hospital for Heroes crusade by calling 0871 520 2982, email news.desk@express.co.uk OR HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW....

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

If you want to make your voice heard, fill out the coupon in the Daily Express newspaper today and send Gordon Brown and his Government the unmistakeable message that this country will no longer tolerate the disgraceful neglect of our Armed Forces personnel.

We will collect your coupons and take them directly to Downing Street.

Or you can register your protest on the Downing Street website BY CLICKING HERE