Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Parmjit Dhanda (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 23 February 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Intermediate Care

Question: It sounds as though some of the changes to the hospital trust in north-east Hertfordshire are similar to those taking place at the Gloucester Royal hospital in my constituency, where four hospital wards are to be closed by 1 April, according to the chief executive of the hospital trust. This significant change is happening without any prior consultation with MPs or those in the local health community agencies. Will my hon. Friend urge the local hospital trust and its chief executive to consult before making such major changes?

Answer: Of course it is very important that local people—not least my hon. Friend, as the local Member of Parliament—have a chance to make their voices heard in regard to such changes. I urge all primary care trusts and local authorities to look at the guidance that we have issued on intermediate care. It talks about more flexibility in relation to the length of time people can get such care, as well as the need to ensure that people with dementia can have access to it, and the need to include reablement services, which are a critical part of the success of intermediate care. I hope that those messages will go out not only to my hon. Friend's hospital but to every hospital across the country.

Secondary information