PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Health and Social Care - 3 November 2025 (Commons/Written Corrections)

Alton and Petersfield hospitals give excellent step-up, step-down and end-of-life care. The trust is introducing more home-based care, which is good, but it also proposes closing a ward in one of the community hospitals. Will the Minister ensure that there remain sufficient beds and sufficient capacity in our local community hospitals for those patients who need them?

In September, Hampshire Hospitals NHS foundation trust reported step-down intermediate care capacity as the primary reason for discharge, and at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS trust, the discharge figure was 13% lower than the average. As important as intermediate care is, we know from the evidence that getting home is better; we are putting record amounts of money into the better care fund to make that possible.

[Official Report, 21 October 2025; Vol. 773, c. 788.]

Written correction submitted by the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the hon. Member for Glasgow South West (Dr Ahmed):

In September, Hampshire Hospitals NHS foundation trust reported step-down intermediate care capacity as the primary reason for discharge delay for 6% of delayed patients with a length of stay of seven or more days, and at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS trust, the figure was 13%. As important as intermediate care is, we know from the evidence that getting home is better; we are putting record amounts of money into the better care fund to make that possible.