HL Deb 02 February 1987 vol 484 cc127-8WA
Lord Winstanley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the present number of amenity beds in each of the hospital regions of England and Wales and what was the average percentage occupation rate of these beds during the most recent period for which figures are available.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)

The information requested is given in the table.

Amenity beds in NHS hospitals, 1985 England and Wales
Regional/Special Health Authority/Country Number of beds authorised at 31 December Average daily occupation during year Occupied beds as percentage of authorised
Northern 212 5.8 2.7
Yorkshire 300 22.6 7.5
Trent 102 3.8 3.7
E. Anglian 48 1.4 2.9
N. W. Thames 97 7.0 7.2
N. E. Thames 52 6.2 11.9
S. E. Thames 145 8.5 5.9
S. W. Thames 92 25.4 27.6
Wessex 144 5.8 4.0
Oxford 81 5.1 6.3
S. Western 100 3.9 3.9
W. Midlands 158 3.9 2.5
Mersey 129 6.7 5.2
N. Western 109 8.0 7.3
Special Health Authorities 28 6.3 22.5
England 1,797 120.4 6.7
Wales 91* 6.9 7.6
England and Wales 1,888 127.3 6.7
*Total number of amenity beds available.

I regret that during the short debate in the House on the effect of private enterprise on the National Health Service on 21st January, in reply to a question from the noble Lord. Lord Kilmarnock on this subject (col. 959), I incorrectly stated that the figure for amenity beds in England was almost 2,500 in total (col. 965). As can be seen from this reply the correct figure is 1,797.