Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent audit he has undertaken of the NHS estate to ensure that adequate, local hospital services in rural areas are provided and maintained; and if he will make a statement.

The Estates Returns Information Collection is collected and published once per year. We also collect data on land which is surplus to clinical requirements, and this is published on a quarterly basis. As set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, we recognise that the National Health Service estate and services in rural areas can face significant challenges. The Long Term Plan confirmed that a standard model of delivery will be developed for use in smaller acute hospitals who serve rural populations.