Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer to Question 62599, on Ministry of Defence: staff, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the potential merits of armed forces medical personnel assisting the NHS at peak demand periods.

There are frequent contacts, at various levels, between the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health on areas of mutual interest.

The Defence Medical Services (DMS) exists to ensure that the Armed Forces are ready and medically fit to go where they are required throughout the world.

Currently over 90% of DMS secondary care personnel are working in the NHS. The remaining DMS personnel are currently delivering primary care, rehabilitation, mental healthcare, dental care and other medical services to our Armed Forces or their families, or deployed on operations, or preparing to deploy.