Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Shifting Care into the Community

Tuesday 6 May 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jessica Toale raised concerns about healthcare for homeless people in Bournemouth West and highlighted the work of HealthBus.
  • Jo Platt thanked the Secretary of State for an announcement on GP services and highlighted the work of Compassion in Action in Leigh and Atherton.
  • Stuart Anderson questioned the Secretary of State about plans to support community hospitals in South Shropshire.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jessica Toale Lab Bournemouth West
NHS
Context

Concern over the quality of healthcare for homeless individuals in Bournemouth West, with specific mention of HealthBus charity's efforts and funding discrepancies. The local integrated care board is noted to have issues related to health inequalities.

Question

I am deeply concerned about the quality of healthcare for people experiencing homelessness in my constituency of Bournemouth West. HealthBus, a local charity, is doing great work in getting out into the community to treat people where they are and to prevent them from having to go into hospital, but it is not getting the funding that it needs and has discovered serious discrepancies in the way that the local integrated care board commissions services, particularly in relation to health inequalities. Can the Secretary of State tell me how this Government are prioritising health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, and will he meet me and HealthBus to discuss how we can support its important work?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

Tackling health inequalities for homeless people and other vulnerable groups is central to the values of this Labour Government. Those values will be reflected in our 10-year plan for health. I would be delighted to hear from her further on what we can do to improve services in her area.

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Q2 Jo Platt Labour (Co-op) Leigh and Atherton
NHS
Context

A local charity, Compassion in Action, provides non-clinical whole-person care based on GP referrals. It aligns with the Government's aim to shift care from hospitals to communities.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for his announcement this morning regarding GP services. One way that pressure is eased in our GP services is through charities such as Compassion in Action, which provides non-clinical, whole-person care in my constituency. It receives GP referrals from across Leigh and aligns with the Government’s aim to shift care from hospitals to communities. Will the Minister join me in thanking the staff and the founder, Pam Gilligan, and agree to come for a tour of the facilities and to see at first hand the impact that they have?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

I wholeheartedly join my hon. Friend in thanking Pam and everyone at Compassion in Action for the work that they do. Working with the voluntary sector, employers, trade unions, community groups and all of us as individual citizens is vital for tackling health inequalities and improving care in our country. I would be delighted to ensure that one of the team pays a visit to the charity as soon as possible.

Answered
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Q3 Stuart Anderson Con South Shropshire
NHS Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Community hospitals play a vital role in reducing pressure on major hospitals, especially in rural communities. The constituency of South Shropshire is specifically mentioned.

Question

Community hospitals can reduce pressure on major hospitals, especially in rural communities such as mine. Will the Secretary of State lay out his plans to support community hospitals in South Shropshire?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

At the heart of this Government’s approach is investment in, and reform of, the NHS to ensure that we deliver better outcomes for patients. That means the biggest devolution of power in the history of the NHS with more decisions taken closer to patients and to their communities, and more power in the hands of patients, too. Community hospitals have a vital role to play, and thanks to this Government’s decision to deliver £26 billion more into our NHS—opposed by the Conservative party—we will no doubt be able to make further and faster progress.

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Q4 Susan Murray Lib Dem Mid Dunbartonshire
NHS Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
Context

The constituency of Mid Dunbartonshire has an ageing population with a need for local healthcare services. The Scottish counterpart's view on increased access to such services is sought.

Question

In my constituency there is an ageing population in need of local healthcare services. Will the Secretary of State meet his Scottish counterpart to discuss the need for increased access to community healthcare, and specifically the need for a new health and care centre within my constituency?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

Only last week I met with my counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to talk about how we can work together to improve health and care throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She will know that health is devolved, but thanks to the decisions taken by this Labour Government, the Scottish Government have just been delivered the biggest financial settlement since devolution began.

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