§ Rev. Ian PaisleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many acute beds were available on a daily basis in hospitals in each of the health and social services board areas in 1979; and how many were available in 1990.
§ Mr. Hanley[holding answer 16 January 1991]: The information requested is as follows:
30W
Health and social services board Average available acute beds 1979 1989–90 Eastern 4,199 3,288 Northern 1,159 999 Southern 1,023 859 Western 928 703 Over the period the number of patients treated rose from 189,678 in 1979 to 218,313 in 1989–90.