Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate hospital-associated deconditioning and lasting impacts on mobility, muscle strength, and confidence among older adults during prolonged inpatient stays.

The Government recognises that prolonged hospital stays can increase the risk of deconditioning and loss of independence among older people.

We are working with the National Health Service to prevent avoidable deconditioning by supporting patients, including older people, to maintain their mobility and functional abilities during hospital stay, with appropriate rehabilitation. We are also supporting safe, timely discharge through discharge to assess and home-first approaches, helping people continue their recovery in the most appropriate setting.