Armed forces facing ‘lottery’ in access to healthcare and school places

Defence committee chairman Tan Dhesi said a report finds that the Armed Forces Covenant is ‘inconsistently implemented’.

By contributor Helen Corbett, PA Political Correspondent

Published Apr 7

A column of British soldiers marching — The Government has been urged to provide guidance and direction so the private and public sector are clear on what their responsibilities are to service personnel and their families (Alamy/PA)

Military personnel are facing a “lottery” in access to healthcare services for themselves and their families and getting their children into school.

The “unpredictability and mobility” of service life has made this worse, the chairman of the House of Commons Defence Committee has said.

Inconsistencies in the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant, which supports the military community through a range of initiatives and grants, puts personnel at a disadvantage, a report from the committee found.

A “worrying number” of people felt that the covenant was “ineffective” or had been “disregarded” when they cited it, the report said.

Some reported they missed out on getting NHS treatment because they fell to the bottom of waiting lists when moved to a new place of duty, while others said they had difficulty finding school places for their children.

Committee chairman Tan Dhesi said the report finds that the covenant is “inconsistently implemented”.