Armed Forces: Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 131 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what options private sector healthcare offers for supporting personnel in (a) maintaining and (b) recovering fighting fitness.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones
As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, the Ministry of Defence recognises private-sector healthcare offers options for supporting personnel in maintaining and recovering fighting fitness.
Defence Medical Services commissions private healthcare treatment for Service personnel which falls outside NHS policy and provision. Bespoke private-sector healthcare pathways are also offered for some Service personnel in priority trade groups who are on NHS waiting lists for longer than 18 weeks. Additionally, the Regional Rehabilitation Unit Fast Track Scheme, in contract with a private-sector healthcare provider, delivers rapid access to high quality musculoskeletal diagnostic imaging, high quality orthopaedic specialist surgical intervention and access to an accelerated spinal care pathway.
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