Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the various categories of hospital beds there are at present; and how many there were for the equivalent categories 10 years ago.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information requested is given in the table.
Average daily number of available beds by sector NHS Hospitals, England, 1979 and 1988–89 1979 1988–89 All specialties 361,670 282,937 Acute 148,725 123,484 Geriatric 55,139 51,042 Mental illness 89,045 62,999 Mental handicap 50,122 30,045 Maternity (General Practice and Obstetric) 18,640 15,367 Sources: 1979 SH3 return, 1988–89 KHO3 return.