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, updated on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in ensuring Front Line Commands retain sufficient (a) capacity and (b) expertise to implement technical direction from Defence Medical Services.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones
A key recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review is rebuilding medical capacity and capability, together with the NHS, to ensure our Armed Forces remain fighting fit in peacetime and are prepared to meet operational demands when at war.
With allies, through the NATO Medical Action Plan we are focused on addressing priority challenges in workforce; mass casualty planning; patient evacuation; and medical logistics. We will look to address legislative and regulatory barriers to effective care.
The Defence Investment Plan will set out how the Ministry of Defence and will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review over the next 10 years, including to ensure that the Defence Medical Services and the NHS together have capacity to meet Defence medical needs, including in the most extreme circumstances.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →