Five Liberal Democrat MPs representing the Bath area have voiced serious concerns regarding plans to hand over the Royal United Hospital’s (RUH) acclaimed “hospital at home” service entirely to a private company by the end of September.
The innovative scheme, which began in 2021, allows patients to receive acute medical care in their own homes through a virtual ward. It has been widely praised, with 99.5% of those treated recommending the service. To date, the programme has cared for more than 5,000 patients and earned the RUH a “working together award” in 2025 for its outstanding multidisciplinary care.
From 30 September 2026, private provider HCRG will assume full responsibility for operating the service within the NHS framework. Although the service will remain free to patients, local MPs have expressed concerns from staff that this change could undermine the close integration with the RUH’s specialist teams that currently contributes to its success.
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Wera Hobhouse, Bath MP, stated: “We need an urgent explanation as to why this successful service is being transferred, and assurances that it will continue to deliver the care and treatment our constituents deserve.” She further emphasised that patient care must remain paramount and that any changes should build on the programme’s demonstrated success in allowing patients to be cared for at home while alleviating pressure on hospital beds.
Ms Hobhouse has written jointly to the RUH’s chief executive alongside fellow Liberal Democrat MPs Anna Subrine (Frome and East Somerset), Roz Savage (South Cotswolds), Sarah Gibson (Chippenham), and Brian Mathew (Melksham and Devizes), calling for clarity on the decision.
Anna Subrine commented: “When an NHS team has consistently delivered outstanding care, earned the trust of almost every patient it has treated, and exemplified the innovative models of care the NHS aims to develop, the public deserve a clear explanation if that service is being fundamentally changed.”
Currently, the hospital at home programme operates through a partnership between the RUH and HCRG, with the hospital providing 20 beds and HCRG 42. The RUH has confirmed that the decision to transfer full operational responsibility to HCRG was made by the local Integrated Care Board (ICB).
A RUH spokesperson said: “We remain committed to providing safe and high-quality care, whether in our hospitals or patients’ homes. The hospital at home service transferred to HCRG in April 2025 when the community services contract commenced. At that time, HCRG subcontracted RUH to continue providing virtual beds, but this arrangement will end on 30 September 2026. We will continue to offer Hospital at Home beds to support our communities through the winter and collaborate closely with the ICB and HCRG to develop the most effective clinical model for the future.”