New patients with open wounds or burns are not being admitted to the Headley Court defence rehabilitation centre because of an infected water supply.

Current patients and staff are also being asked to use bottled water for drinking and brushing their teeth – although the Ministry of Defence insist the risk of illness is low.

The heating at the centre is also broken – meaning portable heaters are the only way patients are staying warm during winter.

Help for Heroes – a charity set up to provide facilities for Headley Court – criticised the centre for not providing injured servicemen and servicewomen with ‘basics’.

A Help for Heroes spokesman said: “Not having basics – such as heating in winter and safe water to drink – seems like a step back in our country’s treatment of our injured and ill servicemen and women.

“The world-class rehabilitation buildings provide a vital facility which our wounded, injured and sick use as they recover from being wounded, suffering injury or becoming ill, and they should be looked after properly.

“Problems do happen, but rehabilitation facilities should be repaired as a top priority and the contractors need to set out an urgent plan on how this is going to be fixed without any further delay.”

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) insisted patient safety is its highest priority, and leaflets on how to minimise risk have been distributed to patients and staff.

It also said patients who will be returning to their homes this weekend – which is normal – would have their return delayed by 24 hours to facilitate repairs.

Peter Haslam, the senior information officer at Headley Court, confirmed earlier reports that patients were asked to wear waterproof dressings when showering were inaccurate.

He said: “Patients are safe to shower as normal – it’s just drinking water and water for brushing teeth we’ve asked them to use bottled water for.

“Obviously the water infection does mean a risk is posed to patients who have open wounds or burns – and that’s why we’re not admitting them at the moment, until the problem is fixed.”

The MoD confirmed the bacteria found in the water – which is regularly tested – is pseudomonas aeruginosa and was found in ‘low levels in isolated areas’.

It is known as an ‘opportunistic pathogen’, according to Public Health England, insofar as it can cause a wide range of infections, particularly in those with weakened immune systems.

An MoD spokesman said: “While the issue is affecting a small number of areas and the risk to patients is low, it needs to be resolved.

“The contractor is responsible for that and we are working with them so it happens as quickly as possible.”