Written Question·Department of Health and Social Care·UIN 70390

Hospital Beds

Tabled: 29 August 2025

Answered: 9 September 2025

Question

Damian Hinds

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department issues guidance on a target ratio of step-down beds to acute beds in an acute hospital’s catchment area.

Answer

Karin Smyth

Neither the Department nor NHS England have issued specific guidance on a national fixed target ratio for step-down beds to acute beds. The number of step-down beds should be determined by local population needs and patient flow assessments.Since 2024, NH...

ⓘ

This is an extract from the Parliament API. Search the full answer on Parliament.uk (UIN 70390) →

Partner sites