§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service hospitals have been opened in England; and what has been the bed gain as a result of these openings, for each year since 1979.
§ Mrs. CurrieInformation held centrally relates to specific building schemes rather than to whole hospitals. The beds provided in schemes costing over £1 million completed in each year since 1979 are as follows:
Year Schemes Beds 1979 3 1,521 1980 8 2,198 1981 10 2,146 1982 16 2,553 1983 47 4,334 1984 45 2,712 1985 49 1,696 1986 39 3,310 The numbers of beds replaced by these new facilities is not readily available, but insomuch as they provide a better care environment for patients and more productive and effective working conditions for staff there is a net gain to the National Health Service.