Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure intensive care is adequately resourced to deal with the next pandemic or major national emergency.

The Government will continue to support the National Health Service with the investment and reform it needs so it is there for patients when they need it most.

Our approach, based on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and previous outbreaks, is to ensure that there are flexible, adaptable and scalable capabilities that can respond to any future novel disease or threat to public health.

While acute care resourcing decisions are made at a local level, the existing Adult Critical Care Surge Plan provides guidance on a consistent approach by which providers of adult critical care services can escalate capacity pressures locally, regionally and nationally for action. A copy of the plan is attached.