§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many directly managed National Health Service beds have been closed within St. Helens and Knowsley within the last three years; what proportion of these beds have been replaced; by whom they are managed; and whether they are still located within the boundary of the health district.
§ Mr. FreemanWe do not hold this information centrally. The overall number of hospital beds available within the St. Helens and Knowsley health authority for the last three years is as follows:
Average daily available beds Year Number 1986 2,305 1987–88 2,073 1988–89 1,809 Source:
1986 SH3 return
1987–88 onward KH03 return
During this period the number of in-patient cases treated in the district rose from 32,965 to 35,346 and the number of day cases from 2,039 to 2,110. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of St. Helens and Knowsley health authority for more detailed information.