I refer the hon. member to the answer provided by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in January this year. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-12/104605

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and DHSC recognise that mefloquine is associated with neurological and psychiatric adverse effects. Defence Medical Command (DMedC) support an approach to healthcare in which treatment is directed towards the patient’s clinical diagnosis and presenting symptoms and managed in accordance with current evidence-based clinical practice and relevant national guidance. DMedC is not aware of evidence or national guidance that recommends withholding otherwise appropriate treatments where clinically indicated, solely on the basis of previous mefloquine exposure.

The MOD will continue to review emerging evidence, including systematic reviews, regulatory advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MRHA) and recommendations from expert bodies concerned with malaria prevention.

As outlined in the response by the former Minister for Health Innovation and Safety, NHS England is considering adding screening for prior mefloquine use and any associated adverse events to initial Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE assessments.

My hon. Friend makes a very important point. All armed forces personnel are supported by dedicated and comprehensive rehabilitation services. Allied health professionals play a crucial role in supporting the treatment and rehabilitation of armed forces personnel in the UK and on operations.

Many injured service personnel face prolonged recovery journeys, and access to specialist rehabilitation is crucial. How is the Department expanding the role of allied health professionals in the Defence Medical Services to strengthen rehabilitation and provide joined-up care from injury to recovery?

The sprint review is initiated and led by the Ministry of Defence, working with the Department of Health and Social Care and other Governmental and private organisations. A series of meetings are planned for late 2025 which will explore and progress the joint plans to meet the recommendations outlined in the Strategic Defence Review.

The Defence Medical Services and NHS have participated in a series of exercises to explore the UK’s ability to deal with various combat scenarios and the treatment of casualties in February and July 2025. Further exercises are planned for the end of November 2025 and in 2026. The health services for Devolved Administrations, NATO partners and voluntary sector organisations are engaged in this work.

The creation of integrated crisis plans are broader than health and will consider the recommendations identified in the NATO Medical Action Plan. These recommendations and the creation of integrated crisis plans will be discussed as part of the ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the Ministry of Defence.

A series of joint wargame exercises have taken place that have been used to identify gaps in medical warfighting capabilities. These exercises continue to inform planning between the National Health Service and the Ministry of Defence to ensure both can respond to a wide range of warfighting scenarios that might affect health and patient care.

The Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS have actively worked alongside the Ministry of Defence to rebuild medical capabilities for warfighting through the introduction of the digital extraction of redacted patient notes from general practice surgeries. This has reduced the recruitment process significantly for medically trained warfighting personnel. Furthermore, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS are also reviewing how military medical staff operate across the NHS in clinical placements.

Whilst there have been no recent formal discussions between my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, there is a strong foundation of cross-Government working between Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health and Social Care.

The 10-Year Health Plan for England, which was published on 3 July 2025 by the Department of Health and Social Care, sets out a plan to create a new model of care fit for the future. The Strategic Defence Review recognises the interdependencies between the Defence Medical Services and the National Health Service and the need to continue to strengthen this partnership. Implementation of the review’s recommendations is underway.

A series of workshops, involving both the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health and Social Care, are exploring the United Kingdom’s ability to deal with various combat scenarios and the treatment of casualties. The Ministry of Defence is also participating in the cross-Government Exercise PEGASUS, the national tier 1 pandemic preparedness exercise set to assess the UK’s ability to respond to a pandemic. Both activities focus on understanding system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need, and shared plans for delivery.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, workforce shortages and the fragility of global supply chains are pressures for both Defence Medical Services and the National Health Service (NHS). The Ministry of Defence (MOD) regularly reviews its critical supply chains to identify and mitigate risks to defence capability.

Work is ongoing between the MOD and the NHS to understand system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need and shared plans for delivery to meet Defence medical needs. Increasing resilience of UK medicines supply chains remains a priority for the Government.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, the workforce shortages and the fragility of global supply chains are pressures for Defence Medical Services and the NHS.

Work is ongoing between the MOD and NHS to understand system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need and shared plans for delivery to meet Defence medical needs.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises a significant proportion of Reserves work in the NHS. The deployment of Reserves in Defence medical care requires careful planning given the impact on NHS staffing.

There is a strong foundation of cross-Government working between the MOD and the Department of Health and Social Care, including on planning to meet Defence medical needs and other strategic health emergencies. Work is also ongoing to understand system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need and shared plans for delivery.

The Strategic Defence Review recognises Ministers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) must have direct access to information on the collective readiness of Defence, the NHS, and private healthcare to meet the demands of warfighting and other strategic health emergencies involving DMS.

The Government endorses the Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations, including the recommendation an independent review board, akin to the US Defense Health Board, should assure ecosystem readiness, reporting periodically to Ministers, the Defence Board, and Parliament.

The implementation of the Review’s recommendations is underway. Implementation will be priority business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

The Strategic Defence Review recognises the interdependencies between the Defence Medical Services and the National Health Service and the need to strengthen this partnership to meet Defence medical needs, including in the most extreme circumstances.

The Government endorses the Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations, including the recommendation for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to conduct a sprint review of system-wide capacity and capability. The MOD will work closely with DHSC to create a shared understanding of current capacity, current and potential future need, and shared plans for delivery.

The implementation of the Review’s recommendations is underway. Implementation will be priority business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

The Strategic Defence Review recognises the interdependencies between the Defence Medical Services and the National Health Service and the need to strengthen this partnership to meet Defence medical needs, including in the most extreme circumstances.

The Government endorses the Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations, including the recommendation for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to conduct a sprint review of system-wide capacity and capability. The MOD will work closely with DHSC to create a shared understanding of current capacity, current and potential future need, and shared plans for delivery.

The implementation of the Review’s recommendations is underway. Implementation will be priority business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

The Strategic Defence Review recognises Ministers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) must have direct access to information on the collective readiness of Defence, the NHS, and private healthcare to meet the demands of warfighting and other strategic health emergencies involving DMS.

The Government endorses the Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations, including the recommendation an independent review board, akin to the US Defense Health Board, should assure ecosystem readiness, reporting periodically to Ministers, the Defence Board, and Parliament.

The implementation of the Review’s recommendations is underway. Implementation will be priority business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.