Written question asked by Doug Henderson (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 December 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 December 2008. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 December 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

NHS: Buildings

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work his Department is undertaking to enable NHS trusts to develop premises and sites which facilitate the provision of modern and accessible healthcare.

Answer: The Department recognises the important role, which facilities play in the delivery of modern high quality, accessible care, as envisioned by High Quality Care for All. To facilitate a streamlined and timely approach to facilities development, decision-making about the planning and development of all facilities is vested in local health organisations, who can consult and engage with their local communities on key issues to ensure that those facilities meet their specific needs.At a national level, the Department develops and publishes a suite of best practice guidance on health care facilities, which are made available free of charge to the national health service. It has also developed a range of products and initiatives to support the NHS in the planning and construction of facilities.

Secondary information