HC Deb 10 February 1988 vol 127 c273W
Mrs. Rosie Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many intensive treatment unit beds are currently closed at the Brook hospital; and for how long these beds have been closed.

Mrs. Currie

As I informed the hon. Member in my reply on 2 February at column 595, at present two of the eight intensive treatment unit beds at the Brook hospital are closed.

At the beginning of 1986 there was a nursing staff complement of 50 whole-time equivalents (WTEs) for eight intensive treatment unit beds plus six coronary care unit beds. Because of concern about the adequacy of these staffing levels, two of the intensive treatment unit beds were then closed. The nursing complement was also reviewed (using the recommendations of the Cheltenham study report on nurse staffing ratios) and increased to 57 WTEs for the six intensive treatment units plus two coronary care unit beds.

Mrs. Rosie Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds have been closed either temporarily or permanently over each of the past three years at the Brook hospital and Greenwich district hospital; and how long each closure lasted.

Mrs. Currie

I am sorry that I cannot give the hon. Member the information she seeks which is not held centrally. Details about the availability of beds at the Brook hospital and Greenwich district general hospital should be available from Greenwich health authority, and the hon. Member may wish to contact the district chairman.

Forward to