§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the complement of beds available in 1971 and at the present time in the Central Middlesex, Learning-ton Park, Willesden, St. Monica's Neasden and Wembley Hospitals; (2) why there has been a 30 per cent. drop in the number of beds available for hospital treatment between the years 1971 and 1975 in the Brent health district.
§ Mr. MoyleThe complement of beds for 1971 and December 1977—the latest figures available—are as follows:
December 1971 1977 Central Middlesex 689 588 Leamington Park 96 96 Willesden 127 40 St Monica's 35 NIL Neasden 180 90 Wembley 131 130 TOTAL 1,258 944 The drop in the number of beds—25 per cent.—is due to several factors. The district is over-provided with acute beds. At Central Middlesex Hospital up to 100 beds at any one time are out of use because of ward upgrading. Upgrading wards at Willesden Hospital has 398W already provided 40 geriatric beds; further beds will be brought back into use after conversion. The increase in the number of beds at Northwick Park Hospital from 275 to 771 has provided additional accommodation for some patients who formerly relied upon services in Brent district. The area infectious diseases service—56 beds—formerly provided at Neasden Hospital has been transferred to Northwick Park Hospital. In addition, there has been a gradual decline in the population.