Professor Jason Leitch CBE, Scotland’s former National Clinical Director, has been appointed Chief of Defence Medical. He will lead Defence Medical Command in a major transformation of military healthcare, preparing it for future operational demands.
The new Chief will oversee the delivery of Strategic Defence Review commitments and a £50 million Defence Investment Plan. This investment aims to enhance medical readiness, bringing life-saving technologies such as dried blood products and tranexamic acid autoinjectors to the battlefield, alongside modern field hospital equipment.
Professor Leitch, who served as Scotland's National Clinical Director from 2015 to 2024, will formally begin his new role on Monday 2 November. His initial priority will be to understand the people, patients, and operational needs of the Armed Forces.