§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of current bed availability in the Worcestershire NHS Acute Hospitals Trust; and if he will make a statement. [154587]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 20 March 2001]: Assessment of current bed availability in Worcestershire is ongoing on a number of levels. On a practical level there are weekly meetings within the trust to maximise the use of current capacity and review any delayed transfers of care The health authority works in partnership with Social Services and National Health Service colleagues to address capacity issues through weekly meetings of the local Winter Operational Forum.
In relation to the longer-term position the Worcestershire Health Authority is currently modelling bed numbers and capacity for the year ahead.
The health authority's modelling work on bed numbers will take into account the Government's National Beds Inquiry and the total number of beds available within Worcestershire to care for patients in the most appropriate location after the new hospital opens will actually be in line with the national average.