VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Armed Conflict: Health Services

Asked by Dr Neil Shastri-HurstConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 20 June 2025UIN 57167

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to participate in a joint sprint review with the Ministry of Defence to assess the national health ecosystem’s capacity to meet the demands of major military operations.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

Ensuring that the national health system is resilient and prepared to meet the demands of major military operations is of vital importance to deterrence and defence.

The Department of Health and Social Care will work closely with the Ministry of Defence to consider the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review 2025 to ensure the national health system is resilient and prepared to meet the demands of any potential future conflict and to mitigate the wider impacts on staffing, care capacity, and service delivery.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim