Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that healthcare (a) standards in rural and semi-rural towns and villages meet the same standards as in cities and (b) in Bromsgrove constituency meets the highest standards.

The Government is restoring the founding promise of the National Health Service, to bring quality healthcare to all, regardless of how much you earn or where you live. Local integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the design and commissioning of health care services to best meet the needs of their local population including in more rural areas such as Bromsgrove.

However, we are working across all areas to establish new neighbourhood services and also improve against the key NHS access standards set out in the NHS’s Constitution and are making progress with improvements in waiting times for elective and urgent and emergency care.

Additionally new funding for general practitioners is being prioritised for areas where the need is greatest, and we're sending more cancer specialists to rural hospitals. As we modernise the health service, the NHS App and NHS Online will bring world class healthcare to the most remote corners of our country at the touch of a button.