Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is is taking to help tackle delays in the transfer of care.

It is a priority for the Department to tackle delays in the transfer of care, and to ensure that people receive the care that they need.

On 30 January 2025, the Government published a revised policy framework for the £9 billion Better Care Fund. The new BCF Policy Framework for the 2025-2026 financial year supports local areas to use pooled funding in way that delivers greater impact for those receiving integrated health and social care.

Under the new framework, local authorities and National Health Service integrated care boards are accountable for providing timely and joined-up support for people with more complex health and care needs, and for achieving more timely and effective discharge from acute, community, and mental health hospital settings.