HC Deb 24 November 1982 vol 32 c500W
Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals, wards and beds have been (a) closed and (b) opened since May 1979.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

From May 1979 to September 1982 closures were approved of 90 hospitals involving 5,100 beds and part closures involving at least 968 beds—information is not available on the number of beds involved in four part closures approved in 1979. Information on the dates closures take place is not available centrally. Since May 1979, 24 major developments involving new beds have reached completion. Information is not available centrally on the dates when the projects were fully commissioned nor on the numbers of beds opened. Information is not available centrally on schemes costing less than £2 million.