Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the withdrawal of funding for Integrated Stroke Delivery Networks aligns with the objectives of the forthcoming Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework.

The Department has not made a specific assessment. That is because the responsibility for delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioner working with NHS providers and other stakeholders. Commissioners are responsible for ensuring that NHS funding is used effectively to improve population health, reduce inequalities, and deliver high-quality, accessible care. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients.

NHS England’s National Stroke Service Model and the National Service Model for an Integrated Community Stroke Service aim to reduce inequalities by standardising care, enhancing access to acute treatments, and providing comprehensive community rehabilitation.

The Government is committed to achieving a 25% reduction in premature mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke across England. To accelerate progress and tackle variation across the country, a new CVD Modern Service Framework will be published in 2026. This framework will support improvement, reduce inequalities, and foster innovation where it is needed most.