Firefighter health checks planned under new government concordat
Iain Hoey
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Firefighter health checks and research funding
Firefighters in England will receive regular health checks under a new Firefighters Concordat on Health and Wellbeing announced on 16 April 2026, with government funding also directed to research on long term occupational risks.
The Department of Health and Social Care said Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced the agreement at the Fire Brigades Union on 16 April 2026.
The concordat is intended to improve prevention, early diagnosis and support during service and after service.
It will be delivered through a working group established under the Ministerial Advisory Group on Fire and Rescue Reform.
The government said every firefighter in the country will receive consistent, regular health checks.
New funding will be directed through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to build evidence on firefighter health and wellbeing.
The research will examine mental health, musculoskeletal health, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The government said there will be a specific focus on underrepresented groups in the profession, including women, with reference to kit and protective equipment not designed for them.
The agreement will also raise awareness of NHS services that could support firefighters, including mental health support, cancer screening and musculoskeletal care.
Firefighter occupation will be recorded in NHS records so doctors can make better informed decisions.
Firefighters concordat to be delivered through sector working group
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “We cannot continue to ask people to give everything in service of others and then fail them when they need help themselves.”
National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair Phil Garrigan said: “Supporting further research and building a stronger evidence base will be vital to improving understanding of occupational risk and ensuring firefighters receive appropriate, timely support throughout their careers.”
Building Safety Minister Samantha Dixon said: “It’s a serious, long-term promise to understand the risks they take and make sure every firefighter gets the health support they deserve – during their career and beyond.”
Fire Brigades Union General Secretary Steve Wright said: “The commitment from the Health Secretary to increase health monitoring for firefighters is a very welcome and important step forward.”
The working group will bring together government, fire and rescue services, employers and representative bodies to establish monitoring that can better assess firefighter health and spot risks earlier.
