Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of NHS England on levels of NHS service provision, in the context of (a) the closure of the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders programme and (b) and reductions in levels of availability of hyperbaric chamber services.

Volunteers play an important role supporting and complementing National Health Service services, staff, and patients but they do not replace staff or services. Following the closure of the NHS Volunteer Responders programme, all volunteers have been signposted to other NHS and voluntary sector organisations to continue their volunteering. Referrers were informed of the change in service provided so that they can source alternative support for their patients if needed. In addition, there are over 70,000 volunteers who continue to support NHS trusts directly in over 300 different volunteer roles, as well as many local voluntary sector organisations that provide other forms of support.

NHS England is committed to ensuring equitably accessible, high-quality services, for anyone who requires Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). This will be achieved through the commissioning of six geographically dispersed services across England. The geographical scope of these services will ensure that there are no more than four hours travelling time by road from coastal locations, furthest borders or between neighbouring commissioned HBOT centres. This is in line with good practice guidelines.