§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many acute beds there are within the National Health Service in London; and what has been the level of demand for them in each year since 1980.
§ Mr. John PattenThe available information is set out in the table which shows that while beds have reduced by 69W 3.5 per cent. in-patient cases have increased by 4.6 per cent.—a net increase in cases treated per bed of 8.4 per cent.
NHS hospitals in health authorities wholly or partly within the GLC area—Acute specialties* Year Average daily number of available beds In-patient cases 1980 29,543 872,408 1981 29,262 883,132 1982 28,995 884,999 1983 28,510 912,945 * "Acute" is defined as all specialties except geriatrics, younger disabled, GP maternity, obstetrics, mental handicap and mental illness.