HC Deb 22 February 1984 vol 54 cc570-1W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the hospital bed complement within the National Health Service in England in each of the past five years.

Mr. John Patten

Information is not available in precisely the form requested. The average daily numbers of available beds in the National Health Service in England from 1978 to 1982, the latest year for which figures are available, are given in the table.

Year Average daily number of available beds
1978 369,235
1979 361,670
1980 355,979
1981 351,505
1982 348,104