Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she expects University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust to remain within the same Integrated Care Board as Rugby following local government reorganisation; and what steps she is taking to help ensure continued effective commissioning of urgent and emergency care services for Rugby residents.

I refer the Hon Member to the policy statement made collectively by the Cabinet Office on 31 July, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rewiring-the-state-cabinet-statement

This made clear the commitment to aligning key public service boundaries to facilitate effective delivery that better meets population needs. We will make further statements in due course on the implications of this approach for local delivery of health services.

Regarding urgent and emergency care services in Rugby, the NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board is developing and delivering an Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care Programme. The programme aims to improve access, support more care closer to home, reduce avoidable pressure on hospital services, and provide patients with more joined-up care. More information regarding this programme can be found at the following link:

https://www.happyhealthylives.uk/integrated-care-board/service-transformation/integrated-urgent-and-emergency-care-programme/