Over 10,000 UK Armed Forces Personnel Deemed Medically Unfit for Deployment

New data reveals one-fifth of regular armed forces face medical restrictions, raising concerns about military readiness and personnel shortages.

Ministry of Defence figures show 13,522 armed forces personnel are medically not deployable, with an additional 14,350 facing limited deployability due to medical conditions.
The Army has the highest number of medically restricted personnel, with nearly 23% of its 71,340 members unable to deploy without conditions or at all.
Former Defence Minister James Heappey highlighted that dental check-ups are a significant factor, as personnel without recent exams are automatically deemed unfit for deployment.
Experts and officials, including Lord Dannatt and Mark Francois, have called for urgent action to address medical issues and bolster the armed forces' size and readiness.
The UK armed forces are currently below target strength across all branches, with the Army expected to shrink further in 2025, intensifying concerns about operational capacity.