Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with local health trusts on the prevalence of community hospital services.

The Department has not had any recent discussions with local health trusts on the prevalence of community hospital services.

NHS England has placed community services at the forefront of the NHS Long Term Plan and are committed to supporting vital community services to grow and flourish. The Plan sets out their vision for delivering more care in the community and highlights the need for community care that is integrated, proactive and personalised.

The Department is committed to dissolving the boundaries between primary medical care and community health services so that they work together better for the benefits of patients.