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 reduce the use of out-of-area placements for those experiencing acute mental illness.

We recognise that being sent to a hospital far away from home, family and support networks means a poorer experience of care for patients and increased safety risks, which is why we are working to end this practice.

The NHS Medium Term Planning Framework set targets for integrated care boards to eliminate inappropriate out-of-area placements by 2029.