Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to make changes to the medical entry standards for joining the Armed Forces.

Defence is committed to a diverse workforce and is seeking to ‘select in’ rather than ‘select out.’ I can confirm an update to the Joint Service Manual of Medical Fitness 950 (JSP 950) Leaflet 6-7-7, which sets the Medical Employment Standards (MES) for joining the Armed Forces was published in August 2024. This followed an intensive period of review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff and the recruiting agencies. Each standard was considered in light of existing and/or emerging medical evidence and assessed against the likelihood of the associated medical risk of a five-year engagement. A further update was published in February 2026.

All medical entry standards have been set and are regularly reviewed by military medical specialists, who understand the rigours of military life, the availability of medical support whilst deployed on operations and exercise, and the exceptional impact this may have on existing medical conditions. Ultimately, there is an expectation that all new entrants are able to deploy anywhere in the world to the most hostile of environments, remote from support and medical care, and these challenges are unlike those faced in other occupations.

Defence must find the best balance possible between allowing people with certain health conditions to join the Armed Forces, while maintaining a force that is fully deployable at short notice.