Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that veterans with recognised service-related conditions are able to access specialist-prescribed private treatments under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) may cover medical expenses for seriously injured veterans living abroad after discharge, provided the treatment aligns with UK best clinical practice at the time of decision. This is a specific exception and the AFCS does not generally fund private medical care.

For UK-based Serving personnel and veterans whose injuries or illnesses are service-related, the NHS is the official and recommended healthcare provider, delivering specialised, high-quality care tailored to their needs.

In its 7th Report, the Independent Medical Expert Group reaffirmed support for this model, advocating continued reliance on the NHS rather than establishing a separate, parallel system and we continue to work closely with our partners in the NHS.