§ 72. Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have been closed within the Trent region during the last five years.
§ Mr. DorrellThe following table gives the numbers of hospitals/facilities which we are aware were approved for total closure in the last five years in the Trent region.
Hospital/facilities closed Hospital/facilities opened In-patients treated Out-patients treated Calendar year Financial year 1989 13 — — — — 1988 9 1988–89 9 626,101 3,335,852 1987 4 1987–88 8 612,890 3,343,899 1986 7 1986 7 592,398 3,400,645 1985 1 1985 8 578,370 3,300,193 It is important to bear it in mind that closures are often balanced by new facilities or other reprovision and that the closure figures in themselves do not necessarily reflect any reduction in overall service provision.