§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps to prevent any further cut back in National Health Service acute beds.
§ Mrs. Currie[pursuant to her reply, 21 January 1987]: Since the inception of the National Health Service increasing numbers of patients have been treated in fewer acute beds partly because those beds have been more efficiently used and partly because of different patterns of care, such as increased day-case treatment, supported by increased resources. It is for health authorities to decide how much weight should be given to numbers of acute beds which are only one factor in a complex planning process.