§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the total numbers of beds in Friern Barnet hospital; what is the occupancy rate; what is the closure date for the hospital and how much money is being allocated to the relevant district health authorities in the event of Friern Barnet being closed.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere were 962 available beds at Friern Hospital in 1982 of which an average of 839–87.2 per cent — were occupied daily. At the moment the regional health authority has decided that planning should proceed with the aim of dispersing services at Friern by no later than 1993, with the proviso that facilities be retained on the Halliwick site for up to 200 beds. No final decision has yet been taken, however, and I hope that faster progress might be made towards providing a more up-to-date service to patients based on smaller units and community-based services rather than prolonged hospital residence. Final decisions will only be reached after the usual consultation procedures. The present revenue resources available to Friern and Claybury—the other hospital involved in the proposals—would continue to remain available for psychiatric services in the districts concerned together with any future additional allocation by the region. The regional health authority is discussing the details of proposed individual district allocations with the districts.