Hundreds of soldiers, sailors and air force personnel have received quicker NHS treatment after a programme targeting lengthy waits for serving members of the armed forces. Twenty NHS trusts with large military communities took part in the first phase of the Further Faster Armed Forces (FF-AF) initiative, identifying personnel awaiting care and providing targeted support, including additional clinics and operating theatre capacity.
Health and defence leaders said the scheme is designed to help injured service personnel return to duty sooner. Professor Tim Briggs, chair of the NHS Getting It Right First Time programme and lead for FF-AF, said: “Those who serve our country should not face unnecessary delays in accessing NHS care because of where they are posted or the demands of military life. We need personnel who are fit and ready to be deployed, and this programme has shown that this can be achieved.
“By bringing in additional support and directing the right expertise to the areas where it is needed, we can treat patients more quickly. We have delivered significant reductions in waiting times in just six months, helping people receive care sooner while supporting the operational readiness of our armed forces.”
A total of 486 military personnel had their treatment brought forward during the first phase, which ran from January to March. Participating trusts included Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, which serves the substantial Royal Navy community at HMNB Portsmouth.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, located near Aldershot Garrison and Sandhurst, and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which serves Catterick Garrison, were also among those involved.
Hospitals taking part were helped to increase the number of operations carried out each day and expand clinic capacity. NHS teams also worked alongside military medics to help personnel attend appointments, including by arranging travel assistance and time away from duties where necessary.
The initial phase concentrated on ear, nose and throat care. Over six months, average waits for military personnel dropped from 16.9 weeks to 11.8 weeks. Trauma and orthopaedic services were also prioritised, with waits decreasing from 13.9 weeks to 9.7 weeks. The elective procedures covered can include ear and sinus surgery, as well as operations to repair damaged knees, shoulders and hips.
Kate Davies, NHS England’s director of health and justice for armed forces, said: “Behind these figures are real people who have given a great deal to serve their country and who deserve access to care that recognises the realities of service life.
“Cutting waiting times means helping serving personnel receive the treatment they need sooner, with fewer unnecessary delays and less disruption to their lives and service.
“This work demonstrates what can be achieved when the NHS and Defence Medical Services work closely together to understand the barriers faced by serving personnel and identify practical solutions.”
Surgeon Captain Nick Imm, assistant head of the strategic commissioning team for defence healthcare and senior military lead for FF-AF, said the initiative was “supporting the deployability of the UK armed forces by improving access to NHS care, particularly in trusts serving large military communities”.
He added: “Frequent postings can disrupt treatment pathways, with personnel sometimes having to undergo reassessment or experiencing delays after moving to a new location.
“The partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the Getting It Right First Time programme has allowed the care of serving personnel to be managed proactively. It is encouraging to see waits of more than 18 weeks fall so substantially in trauma and orthopaedic, and ear, nose and throat, services.”
Minister for Veterans and People Calvin Bailey MP said: “Our people are the backbone of our armed forces, and they deserve the very best when it comes to their healthcare.”
Health Innovation Minister James Frith said: “The brave men and women who serve our country should never be left waiting unnecessarily for treatment. By ensuring armed forces personnel are assessed and treated more quickly, this programme is helping them recover sooner and remain ready to serve when the nation needs them.”
