Urgent Treatment Centres
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to urgent care services in areas where there is no A&E department within 10 miles.
Answered by Karin Smyth
Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local communities, as they are best placed to take those decisions.
The Urgent and Emergency Care Plan 2025/26 sets out the planned action to be taken to improve services this year. Backed by almost £450 million, it will expand urgent and emergency care facilities to provide faster care for patients, including those services outside of acute hospitals.
The 10-Year Health Plan focuses on shifting urgent care into the community through new Neighbourhood Health Services. This will improve the experience and care that people receive, rather than having to go to hospital unnecessarily, while more timely access to primary care and better proactive care for long term conditions will reduce demand into urgent and emergency care.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →