§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of national health service beds in use in(a) the acute sector and (b) totally in each year from 1979 to 1989; and what is the current figure.
§ Mr. DorrellThe information requested is given in the table. The latest available figures show that in 1989–90 almost 7.5 million in-patient cases were treated. On a comparable basis, just over 6 million in-patient cases were treated in 1979—a rise of nearly 25 per cent.
Average daily available beds in England Acute sector (Thousands) Total (Thousands) 1979 149 362 1980 146 356 1981 145 352 1982 144 348 1983 142 343 1984 139 335 1985 136 325 1986 133 316 1987–88 128 297 1988–89 123 281 1989–90 121 270 Source:
SH3 return 1979–1986
KHO3 return 1987–88—1989–90