§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many high dependency unit beds there are in(a) Hartlepool General Hospital, (b) Dryburn Hospital and (c) Sunderland Royal Hospital. [2459]
§ Mr. MilburnThe "Bed availability for England" book, copies of which are available in the Library, contains information by individual National Health Service providers, i.e., trusts, directly managed units and the special health authorities with summary tables for England. Data are collected by broad ward classification rather than by clinical specialty. Although the broad ward classification—"General Patients—Other422W ages—intensive" may include high dependency unit beds it is not possible to identify these separately. Returns are made on a financial year basis and the latest year for which data are available is 1995–96.
Following a review of central requirements, the return was changed for 1996–97 to collect information on the number of beds (a) available and (b) occupied. Figures from this new return will be published for the first time later this year.