PROVISION OF INTERMEDIATE CARE AND COMMUNITY HOSPITALS

Early day motion 798, tabled 19 October 2005 by Boris Johnson (Conservative). Signed by 59 members.

That this House recognises the valuable work carried out by community and cottage hospitals in providing intermediate and step-down care; notes that the cost of treating a patient in a local community hospital is often significantly lower than the cost of treating one in a district general hospital; further notes that delayed discharge as a result of lack of capacity at the intermediate care level continues to plague the NHS, leading to a shortage of acute beds; further notes that many community hospitals in Oxfordshire, such as Townlands hospital in Henley-on-Thames, are threatened with closure; and calls upon the Government to ensure that these proposed closures are forestalled and that community hospitals are placed back at the heart of community care.

Signatures by party: Conservative 44, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour 3, DUP 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.