Written questions

Hospital Beds

Commons · Question 70390 · Tabled 29 Aug 2025 · Department of Health and Social Care · Official record

Answered 9 Sep 2025

Question

Asked by Damian Hinds

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department issues guidance on a target ratio of step-down beds to acute beds in an acute hospital’s catchment area.

Answer

Answered by Karin Smyth, 9 Sep 2025

Neither the Department nor NHS England have issued specific guidance on a national fixed target ratio for step-down beds to acute beds. The number of step-down beds should be determined by local population needs and patient flow assessments.Since 2024, NH...