More than half of Army applicants refused on medical grounds in 2024 were turned away for psychiatric reasons, according to new figures placed in the House of Commons Library by Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard.
In a letter to Derek Twigg MP, Pollard provided data from the Directorate of Army Recruiting covering the period 2020 to 2024. The statistics show a consistent trend: psychiatric conditions dominate medical rejections year after year.
In 2020, they accounted for 54 percent of all refusals (3,335 applicants). The figure rose to 5,239 in 2021 (52 percent), dropped to 2,985 in 2022 (42 percent), then climbed again to 4,408 in 2023 (45 percent) before reaching 7,379 in 2024 (54 percent).
Other categories were far smaller in comparison but still affected significant numbers of potential recruits. Musculoskeletal issues remained the second most frequent cause, making up between 11 and 15 percent annually. In 2020, 789 applicants were refused for musculoskeletal reasons, compared to 1,329 in 2021, 1,053 in 2022, 1,262 in 2023, and 1,559 in 2024.
Respiratory conditions accounted for around 6 to 7 percent of cases each year, rising from 339 refusals in 2020 to 781 in 2024. Dermatological issues followed a similar trajectory, with 325 applicants rejected in 2020 and 745 in 2024. Neurological problems also grew from 273 in 2020 to 659 in 2024, consistently representing about 4 to 6 percent of medical refusals.
Gastrointestinal conditions were cited in 246 refusals in 2020, increasing to 590 by 2024. Eye-related conditions peaked in 2023 with 492 cases but dropped to 474 in 2024. ENT problems fluctuated but stood at 351 refusals last year. Cardiovascular issues accounted for between 2 and 3 percent of cases, from 128 in 2020 to 275 in 2024.
Smaller categories persisted throughout the period. Renal and urological conditions doubled between 2020 (81 refusals) and 2024 (253). Endocrine issues remained consistently low, with just 83 refusals in 2024. Reproductive health accounted for under one percent but still rose from 19 cases in 2020 to 76 in 2024. Dental problems were the least cited reason but increased steadily from 10 refusals in 2020 to 52 in 2024.
Pollard told Twigg: “Enclosed is an updated table detailing the information requested to include the numbers by category for the most frequent reasons for new applicants to the Army being refused on medical grounds each year, since 2020. This information was provided by the Directorate of Army Recruiting. I will place a copy of this letter, and the associated table, in the Library of the House.”
The figures highlight the sustained impact of mental health on recruitment, with psychiatric grounds outweighing all other categories combined. They also underline persistent medical barriers across a wide range of conditions, posing challenges to Army recruitment at a time of increased demand for personnel.
‘Reproductive health accounted for under one percent but still rose from 19 cases in 2020 to 76 in 2024.’
Seems like an odd reason to reject someone, perhaps someone below could explain why it could be an issue?
They were redirected to the Royal Navy desk and became Seamen.
There are plenty of conditions like Endometriosis that are reproductive in nature, but cause long term chronic pain and fatigue that are incompatible with service.