Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2023 to Question 198332 on Community Hospitals: Discharges, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the level of delayed discharges in community hospitals.

On 15 September 2023, NHS England published the Intermediate Care Framework for Rehabilitation, Reablement and Recovery following Hospital Discharge. This best practice guidance aims to improve patient experience and outcomes, as well as improving flow and discharge from acute and community hospitals, freeing-up National Health Service hospital capacity for those who need it most.

Additionally, the Better Care Fund Policy Framework sets out the government’s priorities for 2023-25. These include tackling delayed discharge and bringing about sustained improvements in discharge outcomes and wider system flow. For 2023-25, we have committed at least £16.8 billion to the Better Care Fund. As in previous years, areas are free to contribute further voluntary contributions.