§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will name in the Official Report each specialist spinal unit within the National Health Service, giving the number of available beds and the geographical area which it is expected to cover; and whether he has any current plans to expand the provision for spinal cases.
§ Mr. John PattenThe average daily number of available beds in each spinal unit in England in 1982, the latest year for which figures are available, was as follows:
Unit Average daily number available beds Hexham 28 Pinderfields, Wakefield 30 Lodgemoor, Sheffield 62 Stoke Mndeville 134 Oswestry 36 Southport 39 A new unit of 120 beds replaced the facility at Stoke Mandeville in 1983. In addition, 24 beds of a new 48-bedded unit were opened in January 1984 at Odstock, near Salisbury, and the district health authority plans to open the remaining beds in April 1984. A new 24-bedded unit at Stanmore opened in February 1984 with the transfer of 10 beds from an existing interim unit. 10 further beds will be opened on a phased basis over the next three months. The opening date of the remaining four beds is subject to a review of operation during the first few months.
Spinal units provide a supra-regional service and they have no specific catchment area.
There are no plans for further expansion of the provision for spinal patients at present.