Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many bed spaces the NHS keeps free as a minimum standard level.

In September, there were an average of 100,615 general and acute beds open across all acute trusts, of these, 93,553 were occupied, a 93% occupancy rate.

Decisions regarding the use of, or opening of, additional beds to manage pressures are made locally by individual National Health Service trusts, in accordance with their operational requirements. The Department does not direct these decisions centrally. However, we are asking trusts to place a special focus on significantly reducing bed occupancy ahead of Christmas, thereby creating additional capacity and improving patient flow

The 10-Year Health Plan aims to expand urgent care capacity through neighbourhood health services and virtual wards, enabling patients to receive care closer to home where clinically appropriate and easing pressure on hospitals. In addition, investment in digital tools will improve patient flow and further reduce reliance on inpatient beds.