§ Mr. Conwayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds there are within the Shropshire health authority area at present; how many patients are currently given treatment within the hospitals located in the Shrewsbury and Atcham area; what percentage of these lives in Wales; whether it is proposed that Shrewsbury should remain the hospital centre for Shropshire and Mid-Wales; and in which other regional health areas there have been established, or there are plans to establish within three years, more than one district general hospital.
§ Mr. John PattenFor the year ended 31 December 1981, the latest period for which figures are available centrally, the average daily number of available beds in hospitals in the area covered by the former Salop area health authority was 2,578.1. Information about the numbers of patients treated in the Shrewsbury and Atcham area and about the percentage of these living in Wales is not collected centrally.
Hospitals in Shropshire, including Shrewsbury, will continue to serve some residents of Powys, but in its "Regional Strategy 1979–1988", published in 1979, the West Midlands regional health authority said that district general hospital services for Shropshire would be provided from two sites, the Royal Shrewsbury hospital and Telford.
I shall write to my hon. Friend with details of the regional health authorities which have established, or plan to establish within three years, more than one district general hospital.