HC Deb 26 November 1987 vol 123 c322W
Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of National Health Service beds available in hospitals under the control of Norwich health authority in each of the years 1960, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1980 and 1987.

Mrs. Currie

I cannot give my hon. Friend all the information he seeks. Due to restructuring in 1974, comparable figures for earlier years requested are not available. 1986 is the latest year for which figures are available.

NHS hospitals activity in Norwich District Health Authority
Year
1975 1980 1986
Available beds 3,965.1 3,979.2 3,452.5
In-patient cases 41,173 53,075 62,726
Day cases 523 5,084 5,895
Total out-patient att., 182,217 245,009 286,737
Throughput 10.4 13.3 18.2

Over the period the number of in-patient cases treated increased from 41,173 in 1975 to 62,726 in 1986. This represents an increase in the number of in-patient cases treated per available bed from 10.4 to 18.2.