§ 1990. Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in district health authority hospitals in the North West region were set aside for children in(a)1979, (b)1986 and (c)
§ Mr. DorrellThe information requested is provided in the following table. Before 1987–88, information collected 451W centrally on bed availability related to consultant department and did not show all beds set aside for children. Bed figures are now collected centrally by type of ward.
Number of average daily available children's beds National health service hospitals North Western regional health authority 1979 1986 1989–90 Speciality/department Paediatrics 723 639 — Special care baby unit 385 328 — Psychiatry children 53 79 — Paediatric surgery 0 93 — TOTAL 1,161 1,139 — Ward classification General patients — — 1,256 Neonates: Regionally designated intensive — — 59 Non-maternity — — 275 Maternity — — 534 Mental illness (short stay) — — 76 Mental handicap (short stay) — — 3 TOTAL 2,203 For more comprehensive information the hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. B. Martin, the chairman of the North Western regional health authority.