Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of changing his Department's policy to allow veterans regardless of how long they have spent out of the armed forces to access specialist wheelchairs and other orthotic equipment through the Defence Medical Services if their injuries are attributable to their service.

The responsibility for veterans' healthcare, including the provision of specialist wheelchairs and orthotic equipment, is primarily the responsibility of the National Health Service in England and the Devolved Administrations. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an assessment of changing MOD policy to allow veterans to access specialist wheelchairs and other orthotic equipment through the Defence Medical Services.

Where injury is directly attributable to an individual's time in service (irrespective of how long since they left the Armed Forces), the Veterans Trauma Network is an NHS service that provides specialist care and support, so veterans are not waiting longer than necessary to access the treatment they need. This includes ensuring veterans have access to appropriate equipment to meet their clinical needs.

In addition, in England, the NHS has a range of equipment available for those who need it, following an assessment of clinical need. The mobility equipment provided through the NHS is readily available and appropriate to meet the clinical needs experienced by veterans. There is an increasing amount of bespoke NHS support for veterans, such as Personal Health Budgets for Wheelchairs.