§ Mr. JoplingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the number of hospital beds currently available in the Kendal district; and what is the anticipated number which will be available when the new hospital is open;
(2) what is the number of doctors, nurses and other support staff who currently work in hospitals in the Kendal area; and what are the anticipated numbers who will be employed when the new hospital is open.
§ Mr. DorrellInformation on the number of hospital beds and the number of hospital staff employed is collected by district only. The current available information on South Cumbria district is as follows:
3Number Average daily available beds (1988–89) 796 Medical and dental staff including locums (1988)1 90 Nursing and midwifery including agency staff (1988) 1,120 Support staff (1988)2 810 1 Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff. Excludes senior registrars and consultants in non-teaching DHAs and senior registrars in teaching DHAs—these staff have their contracts with the RHA. 2 Includes administration and clerical, ancilliary, professional and technical, works, maintenance and ambulance staff. 3 "Number of staff employed are expressed as Whole Time Equivalents (WTE) and rounded up to the nearest 10." My right hon. Friend may wish to contact the chairman of South Cumbria health authority for further information.