Written questions by Stephenson.

If he will make an estimate of the number of pensioners hospitalised in winter 2024-25.

Information on hospital admissions by pensioners, specifically, is not available. NHS England publishes information on admissions by age group, with the following table showing the latest data for those aged 65 years old and over:MonthAdmitted hospital attendances for people aged 65 years old and over, EnglandNovember 2024160,630December 2024 (provisional)154,995Source: NHS England https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2024-25/Notes:This data is provided as a percentage of total admissions; therefore, the figures have been calculated from these percentages and rounded to the nearest whole number.The data publication is released monthly, with December 2024 being the most recent publication. December figures are provisional and are subject to revisions.

If he will ask local authorities to improve signposting of support groups for unpaid carers.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. It is for local authorities to decide how best to support their local population, including how they signpost unpaid carers to support groups.The Government recognises the scale of the reforms needed in social care. That is why we will set out next steps for a process that engages with adult social care stakeholders, including cross-party and unpaid carers, to ensure their voices are heard as we develop plans to create a National Care Service.Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service is clear that a fresh approach to supporting and involving unpaid carers is required to improve outcomes for carers, people needing care, and the NHS.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the condition of Bedford Hospital.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and we recognise that delivering high quality NHS healthcare services requires safe, resilient, and effective infrastructure.As part of the management of their estate, NHS trusts regularly assess the physical condition of their estate. The Estates Related Information Collection survey collects data from trusts on the quality of their estate annually, including the projected cost of bringing all the buildings on each NHS site into acceptable condition, recorded as backlog maintenance. The latest data on backlog maintenance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/estates-returns-information-collection-summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-202223.

What steps he is taking to help ensure new GP surgeries are established in areas of population growth.

GPs have been neglected for too long. They are under-resourced, struggling to cope, and patients pay the price. We know that there is pressure on primary care estates and service provision in areas of high population growth. General practice provides high quality care, and we are committed to shifting the focus of care out of hospitals and into the community.