§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each year from 1979 to 1989 the number of hospitals(a) totally closed and (b) partially closed.
§ Mr. FreemanThe number of hospitals which were approved for permanent total or partial closure from 1979 to 1989 are shown in the table:
Year of approval Total closure Partial closure 1979 29 6 1980 38 4 1981 37 17 1982 18 10 1983 58 18 1984 59 27 1985 24 19 1986 48 29 1987 33 34 1988 64 181 1989 22 160 1Provisional figures. Source: health authority returns.
369WHospital closures are an integral part of local health authorities' planning and management. They are made for many reasons and are often balanced by new openings or other reprovision.