§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will give figures of the numbers of beds available for NHS patients at Walsall hospitals for each of the last 12 months.
§ Dr. OwenThey are:
Quarter Average Daily No. of Beds March 1973 2,101.5 June 1973 2,103 September 1973 2,041.6 December 1973 2,039.4 March 1974 2,011.9 Monthly figures are not readily available.
§ Mr. Emeryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many wards 195W in Devon hospitals have been closed due to lack of adequate staff; and how many beds are affected.
§ Dr. OwenThere are a number of reasons besides staff shortages why hospital beds are not in use from time to time. Over recent months about 13 wards in Devon have been closed at any one time, staff shortages being a major factor. The number of beds affected is about 180.