Urgent and Emergency Services

Thursday 10th October 2013 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Dr Daniel Poulter)]

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, Earl Howe, has made the following written ministerial statement:

We have today laid before Parliament “Government Response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee report into Urgent and Emergency Services: Second Report of Session 2013-2014”, Cm 8708.

We believe the NHS is world class when it comes to the quality and ease of access to urgent and emergency care. However, as the Committee has identified, the system faces increasing pressure. We welcome the Committee’s recommendations and the opportunity to explore and discuss the issues highlighted by the report.

This response describes the comprehensive initiatives, both short-term and long-term, the Government have put in place to assist the NHS in meeting ever-growing demand for urgent and emergency services. These range from the provision of an additional £500 million for this winter and the next, to the NHS England review of the urgent and emergency care framework.

Copies of the Government response are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.