Written questions by McMurdock.

What assessment he has made of trends in Accident and Emergency attendances at Basildon Hospital relative to the growth of local population.

Basildon Hospital’s accident and emergency department primarily serves residents of South Basildon and East Thurrock, alongside patients from surrounding areas within the trust’s footprint. The combined population of Basildon and Thurrock is currently approximately 363,600 residents. The total number of accident and emergency attendances at Basildon Hospital in October 2025 was 12,475. Please note that this data is provisional, with finalised figures to be published next month. Attendances at Basildon accident and emergency have increased in recent years, broadly in line with population growth and rising demand for urgent care nationally. Accident and emergency attendance data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board works closely with the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust to ensure urgent and emergency care services meet the needs of the local population. This includes reviewing recent and projected demand for urgent care services across all accident and emergency and minor injury units in mid and south Essex to support planning to meet future demand.The capacity of Basildon Hospital’s accident and emergency department is subject to ongoing review. Local actions for improvement are in place, including service expansion and regular monitoring to ensure the Department can safely manage attendance levels.

Pursuant to Answer of 1 December 2025 to Question 84488 on Health Services: Buildings, when NHS England expects to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care across trusts.

The provision of clinical care in corridors is unacceptable, and we are committed to ending its practice in the National Health Service by the end of this Parliament. Furthermore, our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 committed to publishing data on the prevalence of corridor care.NHS England has been working with trusts to put in place new reporting arrangements regarding the use of temporary escalation spaces to drive improvement and data transparency. The data quality is currently being reviewed, and we expect to publish the information shortly.We will also be introducing new clinical operational standards for the first 72 hours of care, setting clear expectations for timely reviews and specialist input, further supporting our efforts to eliminate corridor care and improve patient experience.

Whether he has plans to expand Basildon Hospital’s Accident and Emergency capacity to meet (a) current and (b) projected demand.

Basildon Hospital’s accident and emergency department primarily serves residents of South Basildon and East Thurrock, alongside patients from surrounding areas within the trust’s footprint. The combined population of Basildon and Thurrock is currently approximately 363,600 residents. The total number of accident and emergency attendances at Basildon Hospital in October 2025 was 12,475. Please note that this data is provisional, with finalised figures to be published next month. Attendances at Basildon accident and emergency have increased in recent years, broadly in line with population growth and rising demand for urgent care nationally. Accident and emergency attendance data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board works closely with the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust to ensure urgent and emergency care services meet the needs of the local population. This includes reviewing recent and projected demand for urgent care services across all accident and emergency and minor injury units in mid and south Essex to support planning to meet future demand.The capacity of Basildon Hospital’s accident and emergency department is subject to ongoing review. Local actions for improvement are in place, including service expansion and regular monitoring to ensure the Department can safely manage attendance levels.

What assessment he has made of the number of people in the Basildon Hospital catchment area served by its Accident and Emergency department.

Basildon Hospital’s accident and emergency department primarily serves residents of South Basildon and East Thurrock, alongside patients from surrounding areas within the trust’s footprint. The combined population of Basildon and Thurrock is currently approximately 363,600 residents. The total number of accident and emergency attendances at Basildon Hospital in October 2025 was 12,475. Please note that this data is provisional, with finalised figures to be published next month. Attendances at Basildon accident and emergency have increased in recent years, broadly in line with population growth and rising demand for urgent care nationally. Accident and emergency attendance data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board works closely with the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust to ensure urgent and emergency care services meet the needs of the local population. This includes reviewing recent and projected demand for urgent care services across all accident and emergency and minor injury units in mid and south Essex to support planning to meet future demand.The capacity of Basildon Hospital’s accident and emergency department is subject to ongoing review. Local actions for improvement are in place, including service expansion and regular monitoring to ensure the Department can safely manage attendance levels.

What assessment he has made of the capacity of Basildon Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department to manage current attendance levels safely.

Basildon Hospital’s accident and emergency department primarily serves residents of South Basildon and East Thurrock, alongside patients from surrounding areas within the trust’s footprint. The combined population of Basildon and Thurrock is currently approximately 363,600 residents. The total number of accident and emergency attendances at Basildon Hospital in October 2025 was 12,475. Please note that this data is provisional, with finalised figures to be published next month. Attendances at Basildon accident and emergency have increased in recent years, broadly in line with population growth and rising demand for urgent care nationally. Accident and emergency attendance data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board works closely with the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust to ensure urgent and emergency care services meet the needs of the local population. This includes reviewing recent and projected demand for urgent care services across all accident and emergency and minor injury units in mid and south Essex to support planning to meet future demand.The capacity of Basildon Hospital’s accident and emergency department is subject to ongoing review. Local actions for improvement are in place, including service expansion and regular monitoring to ensure the Department can safely manage attendance levels.

What assessment he has made of the accuracy of trust-level reporting on the use of temporary escalation spaces.

The provision of clinical care in corridors is unacceptable, and we are committed to ending its practice in the National Health Service by the end of this Parliament. Furthermore, our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 committed to publishing data on the prevalence of corridor care.NHS England has been working with trusts to put in place new reporting arrangements regarding the use of temporary escalation spaces to drive improvement and data transparency. The data quality is currently being reviewed, and we expect to publish the information shortly.We will also be introducing new clinical operational standards for the first 72 hours of care, setting clear expectations for timely reviews and specialist input, further supporting our efforts to eliminate corridor care and improve patient experience.

What measures his Department are taking to ensure the NHS is appropriately prepared for winter flu-related admissions in 2025 and early 2026.

We have done more than ever to prepare for this winter, including stress testing winter plans, making sure community teams have the vaccines they need, and identifying the patients who are most vulnerable in winter. We are asking trusts to place a special focus on reducing bed occupancy ahead of Christmas, creating additional capacity, and improving patient flow.Flu is a recurring pressure that the National Health Service faces every winter. There is particular risk of severe illness for older people, the very young, pregnant, and those with certain underlying health conditions. The flu vaccine remains the best form of defense against influenza, particularly for the most vulnerable, and continues to be highly effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalisation. This year we have:- expanded the use of the National Booking Service for flu vaccination;- carried out a major campaign aimed at eligible people, encouraging them to take up their vaccinations; and- developed the “flu walk-in finder” so that, from October 2025, patients can easily look up when they can walk into a community pharmacy to get a vaccination.

What information his Department holds on the amount the Exchequer has received from fines against NHS trusts since 2020.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has criminal enforcement powers to fine a health or social care provider where they identify a breach of regulations. The CQC can directly serve a fixed penalty notice to a provider, or a fine may be issued by the court following prosecution brought by the CQC.The size of the fine following prosecutions brought by the CQC is a decision made by the court and is informed by sentencing guidelines. The CQC does not have influence over this decision. The money raised by court fines is paid to HM Treasury. The following table shows the fines served by the court following prosecution brought by the CQC against National Health Service trusts since 2020:Financial yearNHS trust nameFine amount (£)2020/2021Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust1,600.002021/2022East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust733,000.002021/2022The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust2,533,332.002021/2022United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust100,000.002022/2023The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust800,000.002022/2023The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust533,334.002022/2023The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust200,000.002022/2023Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust60,000.002022/2023Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust800,000.002022/2023University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust200,000.002024/2025Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust140,000.002024/2025Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust60,000.002024/2025Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust100,000.002024/2025Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust300,000.002024/2025Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust100,000.002024/2025Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust300,000.002024/2025Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust100,000.002024/2025Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust700,000.002025/2026University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust200,000.00Note: where an NHS trust is fined more than once in a given fiscal year, the fines relate to individual cases.Any fixed penalty paid to the CQC is passed on by the CQC to My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The CQC transfers the penalties received to the Department on a quarterly basis. The following table shows the fixed penalty notices served by the CQC to NHS trusts since 2020:Financial yearNHS trust nameFine amount (£)2020/2021Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust4000.002020/2021Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust4000.002020/2021The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust4000.002021/2022West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust1250.002021/2022West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust1250.002021/2022Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1250.002022/2023North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust1250.002022/2023North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust1250.002022/2023University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust4000.002022/2023University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust4000.002023/2024North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust4000.002023/2024East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust4000.00Note: where an NHS Trust is served a fixed penalty notice more than once in a given fiscal year, this could be due to multiple breaches of regulations.

What proportion of NHS care provided to chargeable overseas visitors was recovered through the Immigration Health Surcharge in each year for which data is available.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is one of the National Health Service’s migrant cost recovery methods and is designed to recover NHS costs attributable to migrants requiring a visa longer than six months.The current IHS fee of £1,035, £776 for students and children, came into force in February 2024. It was calculated as the value of the healthcare budget for 2023/24 that an “average” IHS payer accounts for and reflects the Department’s most recent estimate of the cost of providing NHS services to IHS payers. The full methodology can be found in Annex A of The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2024, at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2024/16/pdfs/ukia_20240016_en.pdf

What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the NHS cost-recovery regime in ensuring that the public purse is fully compensated for care provided to overseas visitors.

No formal assessment has been made. However, we continue to work with NHS England to ensure that the system works as effectively and fairly as possible.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 84028, what the 18-week referral-to-treatment performance is for each integrated care board (ICB); and which ICBs are off-trajectory for meeting the March 2026 target.

18-week referral-to-treatment (RTT) performance data for all integrated care boards (ICBs) is available at the following link:https://data.england.nhs.uk/dashboard/rttThis data is publicly available and can be used to make performance comparisons between ICBs.NHS England’s Operational Planning Guidance for 2025/26 sets a target that 65% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks by March 2026, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5% improvement. This is against the November 2024 position, with all providers required to increase their RTT performance to a minimum of 60%.To support this improvement across all trusts, there is a robust performance management process in place. The new NHS Oversight Framework 2025/26 ensures that there is public accountability for performance and NHS England works with systems and providers to support improvement.There is a process in place to identify and support the providers whose performance on elective waiting lists is most challenged, led by NHS England national and regional teams.

What estimate he has made of the number of patients that have received clinical care in corridors or other non-designated clinical areas in NHS hospitals in the last year.

The Government recognises that the practice of providing clinical care in corridors or other non-designated areas is unacceptable and is committed to eradicating it from our National Health Service.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, sets out the steps we are taking to achieve this, including the commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care. NHS England has been working with trusts since 2024 to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of temporary escalation spaces, to drive improvement. The data quality is currently being reviewed, and we expect to publish the information shortly.

What recent data he holds on Accident and Emergency attendance levels at Basildon Hospital and associated patient safety indicators.

The data is not available in the format requested. NHS England collects and publishes monthly data on the total number of attendances for all accident and emergency types, including Minor Injury Units and Walk-in Centres. The total number of accident and emergency attendances at Basildon Hospital in October 2025 was 12,475. Please note this data is provisional, and that finalised figures will be published next month. The data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/

What assessment he has made of the impact of accident and emergency capacity pressures on patient safety at Basildon Hospital.

We acknowledge that accident and emergency care performance has not consistently met expectations in recent years, and we are taking serious steps to address this.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26, backed by almost £450 million of capital investment, commits to at least 78% of accident and emergency patients being admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours by March 2026.We are putting significant funding into expanding urgent and emergency service access for those most in need, including new Urgent Treatment Centres and Same Day Emergency Care facilities. This will mean 800,000 fewer accident and emergency patients waiting over four hours this year.In July 2025, we published our 10-Year Health Plan which commits to reducing accident and emergency waiting times in the longer-term, by shifting care into the community with Neighbourhood Health Services.

What estimate he has made of the total amount of income written off by NHS Trusts as unrecoverable charges owed by overseas visitors in each of the past three years.

The Department does not hold the data requested on the number of overseas visitors who receive free National Health Service treatment.The Department and NHS England annually publish data on the income identified, recovered and written off from chargeable overseas visitors in England in the Departments Annual Report and Accounts annually and in NHS England’s consolidated NHS provider accounts. The information for the last five years is available at the following links:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6745b836e7cf64050b8098c4/consolidated-nhs-provider-accounts_annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024_print-ready.pdf (page 79)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676150ef26a2d1ff18253415/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-2024-web-accessible.pdf (page 284)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b2a4fc5f8ce2000d3ae544/consolidated-provider-accounts-2022-to-2023-print.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b236c81702b10013cb1289/DHSC-Annual-report-and-accounts-2022-2023-web-accessible.pdf (page 275)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/consolidated-provider-accounts-21-22-final.pdf (page 66)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63e50dc0d3bf7f05c8e947a8/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-2022_web-accessible.pdf (page 319)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Consolidated-NHS-provider-accounts-2020-21.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61fbfacc8fa8f538882511f3/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-2021-web-accessible..pdf (page 249)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/consolidated-nhs-provider-accounts-19-20.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6012c98bd3bf7f05bae2237f/Department_of_Health_and_Social_Care_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2019-20.pdf (page 167)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Consolidated_NHS_Provider_Accounts_Web_Accessible.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d2747dfed915d698a04d5a6/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019-print-ready.pdf (pages 32-33)NHS charges can be recovered up to six years from the date of invoice, and therefore the amount recovered in a year does not necessarily mean it was identified in the same financial year.

What data he holds on the number of overseas visitors who received NHS treatment free of charge in the last five years.

The Department does not hold the data requested on the number of overseas visitors who receive free National Health Service treatment.The Department and NHS England annually publish data on the income identified, recovered and written off from chargeable overseas visitors in England in the Departments Annual Report and Accounts annually and in NHS England’s consolidated NHS provider accounts. The information for the last five years is available at the following links:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6745b836e7cf64050b8098c4/consolidated-nhs-provider-accounts_annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024_print-ready.pdf (page 79)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676150ef26a2d1ff18253415/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-2024-web-accessible.pdf (page 284)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b2a4fc5f8ce2000d3ae544/consolidated-provider-accounts-2022-to-2023-print.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b236c81702b10013cb1289/DHSC-Annual-report-and-accounts-2022-2023-web-accessible.pdf (page 275)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/consolidated-provider-accounts-21-22-final.pdf (page 66)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63e50dc0d3bf7f05c8e947a8/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-2022_web-accessible.pdf (page 319)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Consolidated-NHS-provider-accounts-2020-21.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61fbfacc8fa8f538882511f3/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-2021-web-accessible..pdf (page 249)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/consolidated-nhs-provider-accounts-19-20.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6012c98bd3bf7f05bae2237f/Department_of_Health_and_Social_Care_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2019-20.pdf (page 167)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Consolidated_NHS_Provider_Accounts_Web_Accessible.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d2747dfed915d698a04d5a6/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019-print-ready.pdf (pages 32-33)NHS charges can be recovered up to six years from the date of invoice, and therefore the amount recovered in a year does not necessarily mean it was identified in the same financial year.

What estimate he has made of the annual cost to the NHS of treatment provided free of charge to overseas visitors who are not residents of the UK.

The Department does not hold the data requested on the number of overseas visitors who receive free National Health Service treatment.The Department and NHS England annually publish data on the income identified, recovered and written off from chargeable overseas visitors in England in the Departments Annual Report and Accounts annually and in NHS England’s consolidated NHS provider accounts. The information for the last five years is available at the following links:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6745b836e7cf64050b8098c4/consolidated-nhs-provider-accounts_annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024_print-ready.pdf (page 79)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676150ef26a2d1ff18253415/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-2024-web-accessible.pdf (page 284)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b2a4fc5f8ce2000d3ae544/consolidated-provider-accounts-2022-to-2023-print.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b236c81702b10013cb1289/DHSC-Annual-report-and-accounts-2022-2023-web-accessible.pdf (page 275)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/consolidated-provider-accounts-21-22-final.pdf (page 66)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63e50dc0d3bf7f05c8e947a8/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-2022_web-accessible.pdf (page 319)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Consolidated-NHS-provider-accounts-2020-21.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61fbfacc8fa8f538882511f3/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-2021-web-accessible..pdf (page 249)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/consolidated-nhs-provider-accounts-19-20.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6012c98bd3bf7f05bae2237f/Department_of_Health_and_Social_Care_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2019-20.pdf (page 167)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Consolidated_NHS_Provider_Accounts_Web_Accessible.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d2747dfed915d698a04d5a6/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019-print-ready.pdf (pages 32-33)NHS charges can be recovered up to six years from the date of invoice, and therefore the amount recovered in a year does not necessarily mean it was identified in the same financial year.

What assessment he has made of the financial impact on NHS Trusts of unpaid overseas visitor charges.

The Department does not hold the data requested on the number of overseas visitors who receive free National Health Service treatment.The Department and NHS England annually publish data on the income identified, recovered and written off from chargeable overseas visitors in England in the Departments Annual Report and Accounts annually and in NHS England’s consolidated NHS provider accounts. The information for the last five years is available at the following links:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6745b836e7cf64050b8098c4/consolidated-nhs-provider-accounts_annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024_print-ready.pdf (page 79)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676150ef26a2d1ff18253415/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-2024-web-accessible.pdf (page 284)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b2a4fc5f8ce2000d3ae544/consolidated-provider-accounts-2022-to-2023-print.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b236c81702b10013cb1289/DHSC-Annual-report-and-accounts-2022-2023-web-accessible.pdf (page 275)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/consolidated-provider-accounts-21-22-final.pdf (page 66)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63e50dc0d3bf7f05c8e947a8/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-2022_web-accessible.pdf (page 319)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Consolidated-NHS-provider-accounts-2020-21.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61fbfacc8fa8f538882511f3/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-2021-web-accessible..pdf (page 249)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/consolidated-nhs-provider-accounts-19-20.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6012c98bd3bf7f05bae2237f/Department_of_Health_and_Social_Care_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2019-20.pdf (page 167)https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Consolidated_NHS_Provider_Accounts_Web_Accessible.pdf (page 74)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d2747dfed915d698a04d5a6/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019-print-ready.pdf (pages 32-33)NHS charges can be recovered up to six years from the date of invoice, and therefore the amount recovered in a year does not necessarily mean it was identified in the same financial year.

What proportion of patients waited more than four hours in Basildon Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department in the past year.

The Government acknowledges that urgent and emergency care performance has not consistently met expectations in recent years. We are committed to restoring waiting standards to those set out in the NHS Constitution by the end of this Parliament, as outlined in our Medium Term Planning Framework, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/medium-term-planning-framework-delivering-change-together-2026-27-to-2028-29.pdfBasildon Hospital is part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. In the financial year 2024/25, 29.1% of patients at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust waited for more than four hours from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge.We are putting significant funding into expanding urgent and emergency service access for those most in need, including new Urgent Treatment Centres and Same Day Emergency Care facilities. Nationally, this will mean 800,000 fewer accident and emergency patients waiting over four hours this year.The information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/

What plans he has to improve post-discharge support for mental health patients.

The first statutory guidance on discharge from mental health hospitals, published in 2024 under the NHS Act 2006, emphasised the importance of communication and collaboration between responsible agencies to ensure the patient’s safe and timely discharge and continued care and support after hospital.This is underpinned by the Community Mental Health Framework, which sets out a vision for new models of integrated primary and community mental health services to address longstanding challenges in mental health services, including maximising continuity of care. Neighbourhood mental health centres build on this model, bringing together a range of community mental health services under one roof, including crisis services and short-stay beds, ensuring people’s holistic needs can be met. To ensure that people are provided with the right support to live successfully and safely in the community after discharge, section 117 of the Mental Health Act places a duty on the National Health Service and local social services authorities to provide after-care to eligible patients who have been detained in hospital for treatment, under certain sections of the act.We know there are sometimes disagreements between local authorities over who should be paying for a persons’ after-care and what services should be provided. The Mental Health Bill seeks to address these issues and bring clarity, mitigating delays to the provision of aftercare services.There is also the NHS Continuing Healthcare, which is a package of NHS-funded ongoing care for adults with the highest levels of complex, intense, or unpredictable needs, who have been assessed as having a primary health need, to meet needs that have arisen as a result of disability, accident, or illness.