From Potholes to Patients, Ministers Pledge Reforms

High-Level Summary

Westminster Hall held debates on community hospitals, road maintenance in Nottinghamshire, lifelong learning via the Open University, Government support for West Midlands Police, and access to NHS dentistry in West Sussex. Members highlighted rural access gaps, funding and workforce pressures, consultation delays, and the importance of public trust and accountability. Ministers outlined current programmes and reforms, including neighbourhood health centres and standardised community services guidance, multi‑year highways funding with new accountability measures, the lifelong learning entitlement, neighbourhood policing ambitions, and dental access measures alongside dental school expansion. Each debate concluded with the House resolving that it had considered the topic.

Detailed Summary

Community Hospitals

Roz Savage opened by linking acute pressures and rural access challenges to the role of community hospitals, citing the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s estimate that “around 15,860 patients died in NHS A&E departments in England while waiting for care” and that “in rural areas the situation is often even more challenging”. She noted strong Care Quality Commission ratings despite workforce reductions, raised concerns over trial closures and unclear criteria—“I have been pressing the NHS to find out the criteria by which they will judge the trial closure”—and made five requests: protect and resource Cirencester Hospital with its theatre restored; publish a timeline for restoring Gloucestershire maternity services; set out how the shift to community care will work in rural areas; work with the Community Hospitals Association on a national definition and dataset; and agree a ministerial meeting.

Minister Sharon Hodgson situated community hospitals within the neighbourhood health strategy, stating “we will deliver 250 neighbourhood health centres, with 120 of them opening by 2030”, and highlighted new targets and guidance to standardise community services. She undertook to have the relevant Minister write on how community hospitals fit the model, said Cirencester’s existing services continue with local tests under evaluation and “no permanent decisions have been made”, and added the NHS workforce plan would be published “imminently”. The House resolved that it had considered community hospitals.

Road Maintenance Funding: Nottinghamshire

Steve Yemm described widespread deterioration, costs and safety risks for residents—“potholes are no longer just a nuisance; they are becoming local landmarks”—attributing problems to years of deferred maintenance, with resurfacing cycles far beyond recommended intervals. He contrasted past funding reductions with the current “record £7.3 billion national multi-year settlement” and welcomed increases for Nottinghamshire to £44.7 million in 2025‑26 and £46.9 million in 2026‑27.

Minister Simon Lightwood confirmed “a record £7.3 billion for highway maintenance over the next four years”, set out new transparency requirements and performance ratings—with Nottinghamshire overall amber, but green on spend—and linked a share of funding to best practice. He added the East Midlands will receive £2 billion through to 2031‑32 via the combined county authority under Mayor Claire Ward, and emphasised that councils must publish how residents can report defects. The motion was agreed.

Lifelong Learning and the 1966 “University of the Air” White Paper

Patrick Hurley marked 60 years since the White Paper underpinning the Open University (OU), noting a “‘University of the Air’ meant higher education broadcast directly into people’s homes” and crediting Jennie Lee’s role. He highlighted the OU’s open admissions—“people should be able to study irrespective of their previous educational qualifications”—its scale of around 125,000 students and significant share of part‑time learners, and drew on his own experience of studying while working. He argued that the mission remains relevant amid economic change and urged effective delivery of the lifelong learning entitlement (LLE).

Minister Josh MacAlister aligned the OU’s mission with reforms creating a single flexible funding system across FE and HE: “For the first time, it establishes a single, flexible funding system covering levels 4 to 6”. He clarified that the OU manages applications directly rather than via UCAS and noted OU quality, including a gold award in the teaching excellence framework. The House resolved that it had considered the impact of the White Paper on lifelong learning.

Government Support for West Midlands Police

Ayoub Khan argued that West Midlands Police lacks sufficient officers and sustained funding, stating there are “520 fewer officers on duty” and a further shortfall in PCSOs compared with 2010. He called for urgent reform of the funding formula—“Police funding needs to be fixed, and it needs to be fixed now”—and highlighted the benefits of Operation Fearless while stressing the need for accountable, community‑centred policing: “Operation Fearless is about more than just numbers”.

Minister Sarah Jones reported West Midlands Police funding of £883 million this year, “a significant increase of £36.9 million on last year”, and noted “309 more full-time officers in west midlands neighbourhoods” since last year. She set an ambition for “13,000 extra police in our neighbourhoods by the end of this Parliament” and detailed targeted programmes, including £2.8 million from the knife crime concentrations fund. The House resolved that it had considered Government support for West Midlands Police.

Access to Dental Services in West Sussex

Jess Brown‑Fuller described severe access problems in West Sussex, with high unmet need and DIY dentistry. She cited that “63% of adults had not seen a dentist in the two years prior to June 2025” and that “7% of UK adults had attempted some form of DIY dentistry”. Constituents reported removals from patient lists “with no notification” and long waits escalating to emergencies. She called for urgent NHS contract reform and a clear consultation timetable. Other West Sussex MPs echoed concerns about delayed reforms, data gaps and the need for prevention.

Minister Stephen Kinnock pointed to increased activity and reduced underspends, stating Sussex ICB delivered “over 67,200 more NHS dental treatments” (April–October) and that the national underspend fell “to just £36 million in 2024-25”. He announced new dental school places—“50 dental school places per year…allocated equally to the University of Portsmouth and the University of East Anglia”—and prevention measures including supervised toothbrushing and local investment. Access steps include higher urgent UDA payments—“from approximately £42 to approximately £75”—a single charge for complex care, and a pledge of fundamental contract reform before the end of the Parliament. The House resolved that it had considered access to dental services in West Sussex.