Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of changes to community health service provision in Thurrock on travel times for patients who rely on public transport.

Community health services are central to our ambition to move care closer to where people live, helping people to remain independent, manage long-term conditions at home, and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

Decisions about local services should be taken by local NHS staff, who are best placed to judge the most efficient use of resources, based on local needs, informed by engagement with patients, staff and stakeholders, and supported by clear clinical evidence.

Where certain community services are being relocated to Thurrock Community Hospital or Basildon Hospital, patients will be provided with information on public transport options.