More than 100 military specialists, healthcare professionals, government officials and international partners have taken part in a UK-led medical wargame designed to strengthen the
country’s ability to treat wounded service personnel during a future conflict.
The exercise, organised by Defence Medical Command and involving the Armed Forces and the National Health Service (NHS), examined how military and civilian healthcare systems could coordinate the treatment of casualties evacuated to Britain after receiving emergency medical care overseas.
The scenario focused on the challenges of managing seriously injured personnel returning from operational theatres, potentially after long-distance journeys, while ensuring that civilian patients continue to receive essential healthcare services.
Defence Minister Lord Coaker said the exercise demonstrated the importance of cooperation between government departments, healthcare providers and allied nations in preparing for potential security crises.
“Keeping people safe takes more than one organisation—it takes all of us working together,” he said, adding that testing arrangements in advance would help establish the partnerships and operational readiness needed to protect the country and support military personnel.
Ukraine conflict informs Britain's medical preparedness
A central element of the wargame was the application of lessons learned from Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, which has highlighted the scale of medical challenges associated with modern warfare.
Participants examined how the UK could expand hospital capacity during a major influx of military casualties without undermining access to treatment for the wider population. Discussions also covered the types of injuries likely to require specialist care, long-term rehabilitation needs, and psychological support for wounded service personnel.
The exercise forms part of a continuing British and international programme intended to ensure that medical planning adapts to the changing nature of armed conflict.
Surgeon General Major General Phil Carter said joint exercises were essential to developing the operational patient care pathway, which connects military medical services with the NHS and other healthcare providers.
He noted that the experience of the war in Ukraine reinforced the need for continuous learning, adaptation and technological innovation. Regular cooperation between defence and civilian organisations, he added, would improve their ability to manage returning casualties while maintaining services for the public.
Dr Mike Prentice, the NHS National Director for Resilience, said the health service had a significant role in preparing Britain for a potential future conflict.
Working with the Ministry of Defence allows the NHS to test emergency arrangements, identify weaknesses and strengthen the relationships required to respond effectively to a crisis, he said. The objective is to ensure that returning military personnel can receive appropriate treatment without compromising the NHS’s responsibilities to civilian patients.
New technologies to improve battlefield survival
Alongside operational planning, Defence Medical Command is developing and introducing medical technologies intended to improve survival rates and strengthen care in demanding battlefield conditions.
These initiatives include dried blood products designed to make blood supplies easier to transport and use in emergency treatment, as well as tranexamic acid autoinjectors intended to help control bleeding at the point of injury.
The military is also investing in modern field hospital equipment and improved capabilities for treating casualties in challenging environments.
Further work draws on medical and operational experience from Ukraine, including measures to protect field hospitals, medical equipment and healthcare personnel from attacks. Other priorities include advanced trauma training, more resilient medical supply chains and the development of portable ultrasound devices and uncrewed systems for casualty evacuation.
These efforts reflect the growing importance of ensuring that military medical services can continue operating even when infrastructure is damaged, supply routes are disrupted or medical facilities come under threat.
Part of a wider national resilience strategy
The wargame supports the UK Strategic Defence Review’s emphasis on preparedness, resilience and a whole-of-society approach to national security. This approach recognises that responding to a major conflict would require coordination across the military, public services, healthcare institutions and international partners.
The exercise is part of routine preparedness planning rather than a response to a specific announced emergency. Its findings will be used to refine future arrangements for treating military casualties and coordinating care across defence and civilian health services.
Further exercises are planned in the coming months, as the UK continues to strengthen its ability to respond to the medical demands of a potential future conflict while maintaining essential healthcare for the public.
