HC Deb 14 December 1983 vol 50 cc496-7W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report for each year since 1978 and at the latest available date the number of National Health Service hospital emergency/accident reception centres in operation.

Mr. John Patten

Information is not available in precisely the form requested. The number of NHS hospitals in England which recorded patient activity in accident and emergency departments between 1978 and 1981 (the latest available year) is:

Year Number of hospitals
1978 674
1979 666
1980 653
1981 638