“As our research published earlier this week found, there are many excellent initiatives that seek to move care out of hospital. But they often cost money, require new staffing and take time to develop. Meanwhile GP shortages are rife and many community services have been cut. The truth is that many non-hospital services simply don’t have the capacity to care for the sheer numbers of patients that need it.
“Patients and staff alike will be reassured by Simon Stevens’ announcement today that hospital beds won’t close unless there are alternative services and the staff in place to run them.”