§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many acute beds have been lost in Wales since 1979, expressed by number and as a percentage;
(2) how many (a) hospital beds and (b) acute hospital beds there were in Wales in (i) 1979 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available; and what is (ii) as a percentage of (i);
(3) how many hospital beds have been closed since 1979.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe information is as follows:
Average daily beds in NHS hospitals Change 1979 1991–92 Number Per cent. Acute beds1 10,133.3 8,834.7 -1,298.6 -12.8 All hospital beds 23,456.1 18,640.3 -4,815.8 -20.5 Acute beds as a percentage of all beds 43.2 47.4 — — Inpatient cases treated 349,695 500,336 150,641 43.1 1 Excludes geriatric, maternity, mental handicap and mental illness beds.