Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure that a national patient pathway is created for patients discharged after being hospitalised with covid-19.

On 19 March 2020, we published the ‘COVID-19 hospital discharge service requirements.’ This sets out guidance on supporting the safe and rapid discharge of patients who no longer need acute care. It follows the ‘Discharge to Assess’ model; wherever possible, people who are clinically ready will be supported to return to their place of residence, where assessment of longer-term needs will take place. This guidance provides information to support health and care organisations?to ensure we have the capacity to meet the needs of people affected by COVID-19.?The Government has also made £1.3 billion funding available to the National Health Service to help patients who no longer need urgent treatment to get home from hospital safely and quickly.