§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds in the National Health Service are unused because of lack of health authority funds.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeInformation on unused beds is not collected routinely by the Department. Information on new hospital facilities awaiting opening was collected by special inquiry in March 1982. The position at these hospitals was as follows in April 1983:
University hospital, Nottingham 591 beds in 20 wards Chase Farm hospital, Enfield 56 beds in 2 wards Kettering hospital 34 beds in 2 wards Whitney hospital 42 beds in 1 ward Derriford district general hospital, Plymouth 30 beds in 2 wards Walsgrave general hospital, Coventry 38 beds in 2 wards The problem in these hospitals largely arises from overoptimistic planning assumptions made when the new buildings were authorised some years ago. The Government now will only authorise the placing of contracts for new hospitals when Ministers are quite satisfied that proper provision has been made for the revenue that will be required to open them. This should ensure that past errors are not repeated and the existing problem is steadily eliminated.