Hospital Beds: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
(asked on 8th July 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of social care service delays, including (a) the availability of supported housing, (b) the availability of home care or community care packages, and (c) access to mental health beds, on delays to discharges from the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, and what steps is his Department taking to address any impacts identified.
No assessment has been made on the impact of social care on discharge delays as we do not hold the data. Data on reasons for discharge delays is published by NHS England and is available at the following link:
Through the Government's new £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026 to 2036, we will be delivering new supply of supported housing in greater numbers, and across a diverse range of cohorts, and housing types. This will support more people to build and sustain their independence and reduce care and support needs over the long term.
We are improving discharge delays through the £9 billion Better Care Fund, which supports joint working between the National Health Service and local authorities. It invests in services such as intermediate care, rehabilitation and reablement. Local areas review the balance of home‑based and bed‑based intermediate care, the design and intensity of intermediate care packages, and commissioning arrangements.
The Medium Term Planning Framework asks integrated care boards to deliver real productivity gains by 2028/29, including shorter average stays in adult acute mental health beds.