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Community Hospitals
16 June 2026
Lead MP
Roz Savage
Responding Minister
Sharon Hodgson
Tags
Justice & CourtsNHSEmploymentBrexitAgriculture & Rural AffairsMental Health
Word Count: 10475
Other Contributors: 12
At a Glance
Roz Savage raised concerns about community hospitals in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Savage asks the Government to give a clear commitment to protect and properly resource Cirencester hospital as a local health hub with the operating theatre restored, provide a timeline for the full restoration of maternity services in Gloucestershire, give an honest account of how the shift from hospital to community will be delivered in rural areas, commit to working with the Community Hospitals Association towards a national definition and dataset for community hospitals in England, and agree to a meeting.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Roz Savage is concerned about the closure of services at Cirencester community hospital, including the suspension of the day surgery unit last year. She highlights that the number of district nurses working in these hospitals has fallen by around 55% between 2009 and 2024 due to underinvestment and loss of EU staff post-Brexit. According to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, around 15,860 patients died in NHS A&E departments in England while waiting for care that could have saved them last year. In rural areas, ambulance response times are longer and services at community hospitals are often reduced.
Agreed that better communication from NHS leaders is necessary to prevent concerns and confusion among staff.
Alison Griffiths
Lab
Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
Noted the importance of consultation, trust, and following through on promises in Littlehampton hospital's closure case. Ms Griffiths expressed concerns about the loss of trust among her constituents due to previous hospital closures in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. She highlighted the permanent closure of Zachary Merton hospital and the significant public opposition, including hundreds of petition signatures and letters from residents. She raised questions about adherence to statutory processes and consultation rights for local communities.
Anna Sabine
Green
Wells
Anna Sabine thanked her colleague for initiating the debate and discussed issues at Frome community hospital, including a reduction in beds by Somerset ICB last summer. She highlighted that ambulances often queue due to difficulties in discharging patients to appropriate settings while these community settings are being cut back. Anna also expressed concern over lack of consultation with local MPs on community hub proposals and called for better collaboration between councils, communities, and health organisations.
Glenys Goodman
Con
Wanstead
Glenys Goodman supports Roz Savage's point about the challenges faced by rural areas with reduced services at community hospitals.
Helen Maguire
Con
Epsom and Ewell
Community hospitals, with over 500 across the UK, are crucial for immediate care in health and social services. They serve diverse populations, offering more than 33 specific consultation and outpatient services at Leatherhead community hospital alone. The Health Foundation estimates that about 125,000 people enter intermediate care services each month in England. Helen Maguire highlights the importance of maintaining accessibility and continuity of care in these hospitals to support effective prevention and management of long-term conditions. Asked for assurances that elderly people in rural communities will not be excluded from services due to lack of digital access, responding to Minister's focus on community services rather than specific mention of community hospitals.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Acknowledged community hospitals as crucial for local care and supported the debate's goal of highlighting their importance.
Worried about lack of investment in Horsham community hospital despite extra £29 billion NHS funding.
Katrina Murray
SNP
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
Ms Murray discussed her experience working in community hospitals before becoming an MP. She highlighted the historical significance of these hospitals, like Kilsyth Victoria Memorial cottage hospital which dates back to 1903 as a miners' hospital. Ms Murray noted how GP cover withdrawal and changes in patient care needs affect current operations. Nurse-led care is essential but can be isolating for staff working long shifts with limited support. Community hospitals provide crucial transitional care for those considering moving into long-stay care or a care home.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Praised the work of community hospitals, citing the Hinckley and Bosworth Community Hospital and a £24 million community diagnostics centre that has served over 59,000 patients. Questioned the Government's lack of clarity on how integrated health hubs fit with community hospitals and asked if there is a national strategy or definition for community hospitals. Raised concerns about NHS capital spend being threatened to fund defence investments.
Stratford-on-Avon
Asked if minor injuries units operating extended hours could relieve pressure on A&E departments.
Rachel Gilmour
Con
Tiverton and Minehead
The removal of the CT scanner from Minehead community hospital has significantly impacted access to healthcare in west Somerset. The area's geographical challenges, such as limited transport infrastructure and long distances to secondary care facilities, exacerbate the issue. There are also difficulties attracting healthcare workers to remote areas due to a lack of incentives and poor connectivity, leading to a loss of healthcare capacity. Missed appointments often result in delayed diagnoses and increased pressure on emergency services, highlighting the need for a more effective community care strategy that addresses the unique needs of rural populations.
Richard Foord
Con
Yeovil
Mr Foord highlighted the reduced capacity at community hospitals in Devon and expressed concern over the lack of response to his demands for assurances about maintaining these services. He shared a constituent's experience of facing difficulties due to limited local medical support, stressing the importance of community hospitals as adaptable healthcare providers suitable for rural and coastal areas. Mr Foord cited the Community Hospitals Association's president's views on the adaptability of community hospitals and referenced over 9,000 signatures in support of retaining Seaton hospital.
Government Response
Sharon Hodgson
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this morning, Sir Jeremy. I congratulate the hon. Member for South Cotswolds on securing this important debate. We have heard powerful accounts of the value of community hospitals and community health services more widely, and their impact on patients and families, especially in rural communities. The Government's ambition is to shift more care out of hospitals and into communities through 250 neighbourhood health centres, with 120 opening by 2030, providing easier access to a wide range of health and care services closer to where people live. We have set a target for systems to reduce long waits for community health services so that at least 80% of activity should take place within 18 weeks by 2028-29. Digital services will complement, not replace, high-quality, local face-to-face care. Decisions about individual services are made locally by NHS organisations, which assess the needs of their populations and plan services accordingly. The hon. Member for South Cotswolds highlighted an important challenge regarding whether national ambitions match what people experience on the ground, noting that existing services continue at her local hospital including in-patient and out-patient care, therapies, and a minor injury and illness unit, with local NHS partners testing how services can better meet local need. The pressures of an ageing population, long-term conditions, demand for rehabilitation, and significant population growth make local community-based services more important. The future of community hospitals should not be considered in isolation but as part of a broader community health infrastructure that includes neighbourhood teams, primary care, mental health services, social care, and the voluntary sector.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.