Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has policy papers, impact assessments or other documents setting out (a) the original policy aims, (b) the anticipated merits, risks or cost savings and (c) the operational reasons for not including serving members of the Armed Forces, but not their family members, from the provision of NHS Patient Choice (Right to Choose).

The NHS Patient Choice (Right to Choose) was legislated for by the Department of Health and Social Care and provides a legal entitlement in England for patients to select their hospital or mental health service provider for a first routine outpatient referral. This right applies when your GP refers you to see a specialist for a physical or mental health condition.

For Armed Forces personnel, Defence Medical Command (DMedC) provides primary healthcare, dental care, rehabilitation, occupational medicine, mental healthcare to ensure service personnel are medically fit, deployable globally, and ready for operations. DMedC works in partnership with the NHS to meet the healthcare needs of Armed Forces personnel and ensure Armed Forces personnel have appropriate access to NHS pathways.

The department recognises concerns about access to the ‘Right to Choose’ pathway for Armed Forces personnel and will continue to work with the NHS to ensure Armed Forces personnel have appropriate access to NHS pathways, including those provided for by the ‘Right to Choose.’