HC Deb 21 November 2000 vol 357 cc163-4W
39. Mr. Lilley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of beds in NHS hospitals is occupied by patients who are being treated for(a) infections and (b) other complications acquired in hospital. [137675]

Mr. Denham

National prevalence studies suggest that at any one time around 9 per cent. of in-patients have an infection acquired since their admission to hospital. The impact on bed occupancy will vary from patient to patient as it will for any other complication which may arise during treatment of the condition for which the patient was admitted. Hence, centrally collected information does not provide the precise data requested.