Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with NHS Property Services on taking steps to use former NHS facilities for step-down healthcare provision.

Integrated care boards are responsible for considering the differing demands and requirements for healthcare services in their locality and then planning, commissioning and paying for services from appropriate providers such as the National Health Service, general practices or Local Authorities.

A range of primary and community care services are provided out of buildings and facilities owned and/or managed by NHS Property Services Ltd (NHSPS). NHSPS works closely with local systems to understand their estates needs and to make their properties available to meet these requirements.

Where the relevant local commissioner has declared properties surplus to NHS requirements they are vacated; following this it is important that these assets are sold as quickly as possible to avoid further cost for the NHS.