SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has welcomed the Chief Medical Officer for England’s Annual Report 2026, which recognises the particular healthcare needs of military communities in rural areas and small towns.
The report, by Professor Chris Whitty, highlights how geography, limited public transport, and often hidden deprivation can affect access to health services. It identifies military bases among rural settings whose distinct health needs must be considered when designing local provision.
For SSAFA, the findings reinforce the importance of coordinated healthcare and welfare support for serving personnel and veterans, and their families. Rural isolation, frequent moves, and fragmented healthcare can create disadvantages, making partnership and continuity particularly important for military communities.
The report makes recommendations to government, the NHS, and rural populations. It cautions that approaches developed for cities do not always translate effectively to rural settings, where sparse populations and distance from services present different challenges for healthcare provision and access.
Asked by the report’s authors to provide comment, Air Marshal Steve Shell, Chief Executive Officer of SSAFA, said:
“SSAFA welcomes this report’s recognition that rural isolation, frequent moves, and fragmented healthcare can disadvantage military communities.
“Nobody should lose access to timely care because of service life. Through practical, emotional, and financial support, SSAFA helps serving personnel and veterans, and their families navigate challenges and access support.
“The report’s emphasis on partnership and continuity is important, reinforcing why coordinated healthcare and welfare support must follow military families wherever service takes them, turning Covenant commitments into reality.”
The report also identifies limited public transport as a significant barrier, particularly for people without access to a car. While telemedicine may help, it is not a complete substitute for accessible services. These findings underline the importance of designing provision around local circumstances rather than assuming urban approaches will meet rural needs.
SSAFA provides practical, emotional, and financial support to the whole military community. Its response to the report emphasises that support must follow military families wherever service takes them, helping ensure that Armed Forces Covenant commitments translate into timely access to care.
