HC Deb 25 February 2002 vol 380 cc996-7W
Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many care beds were(a) closed in the public sector and (b) created in the private sector in each year from 1990 to 1997; [35369]

(2) how many care beds have been closed in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector since 1997; and how many have been created in each sector since 1997. [35370]

Jacqui Smith

Information on the number of home care beds closures or new home care beds is not centrally available. The number of care home beds in independent homes and local authority staffed homes is presented in the table.

Number of residential and nursing care home beds in independent homes and local authority staffed homes, England, 1997 to 2001
Rounded numbers
At 31 March (a) Total number of care beds in independent 1 care homes (b) Total number of care beds in local authority staffed homes
1990 310,700 120,300
1991 345,000 112,600
1992 367,900 100,900
1993 385,000 90,200
1994 402,900 81,200
1995 416,900 75,500
1996 429,500 72,700
19972 468,600 65,800
1998 489,500 64,000
1999 487,200 59,000
2000 483,800 55,500
2001 477,100 50,900
1 The figures relate to residential care beds in independent residential homes and nursing beds in private nursing homes, hospitals and clinics.
2 The number of nursing beds in 1997 refers to the period 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1997.

Source:

Department of Health's annual returns.