§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how 218W many hospital beds have been closed in each hospital region from 31 December 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available; and how many more closures are contemplated in the present financial year.
§ Dr. VaughanInformation is not held centrally in the form requested but between 1 January 1980 and 30 June 1980 decisions were taken to close permanently hospitals or parts of hospitals which will involve the following numbers of beds:
Regional Health Authority Northern 22 Yorkshire 39 Trent 168 North-Western 52 North-West Thames 67 North-East Thames 128 South-East Thames 146 South-West Thames 32 Not all of these closures will yet have taken place. No decisions to make permanent closures were taken in the remaining regions.
At 30 June 1980, the Department had been notified by area health authorities of proposals to close permanently other hospitals or parts of hospitals involving the following numbers of beds:
Regional Health Authority Northern NIL Yorkshire 51 Trent 109 East Anglia 10 North-West Thames 252 North-East Thames 197 South-East Thames 78 South-West Thames 861 Wessex 216 Oxford 55 South Western 16 West Midlands 128 Mersey 1024 North-Western 59 It is not possible to say when decisions will be taken on these proposals.