Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much of the funding announced by the Prime Minister on 9 January to support patients who are medically fit but need care after discharge from hospital will be ring-fenced to address the national shortage of front-line domiciliary and residential care staff.

The additional £200 million announced on 9 January is specifically for short term care, to allow local areas to purchase bedded step-down capacity and associated clinical and therapeutic support for those patients who do not meet the criteria to remain in hospital. It will be for integrated care boards to determine how best to address need in line with the guidance set out by NHS England.