§ 1. Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average annual increase in national health service capital spending since 1978–79; and what was the average increase between 1973–74 and 1978–79.
§ The Minister for Health (Mrs. Virginia Bottomley)National health service capital spending has increased by an average of 4.3 per cent. a year in real terms since 1978–79, compared with an average real terms fall of 6.7 per cent. a year between 1973–74 and 1978–79.
§ Mr. MossI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Will she confirm that that excellent national news is reflected in my constituency, which is served by three separate district health authorities which have invested more than £54 million in new hospital builds since 1979?
§ Mrs. BottomleyNot only can I confirm my hon. Friend's figures, I can go further and tell him that an additional £115 million has been invested by the three health authorities that his patients use in Cambridge, Peterborough, and West Norfolk and Wisbech. That is a real and practical example of investing in the health service for the future and of serving patients.
§ Mr. HinchliffeHow much of that capital spending was funded from the closure and sale of established hospitals during those periods?
§ Mrs. BottomleyI cannot give the hon. Gentleman that figure at the moment, but it is essential that we use NHS buildings as effectively as we can. Investing in capital does not mean preserving units that are no longer needed. There were 30,000 tuberculosis beds in this country before the 128 war, but we do not need TB beds now; we need day surgery and intensive care facilities, such as those that I opened yesterday when I visited a hospital in the constituency of the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman). That shows the side of the health service that the hon. Lady is not so keen to talk about—our investment in the future and our effective use of facilities and resources.