Alton28. Mr.To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beds will be available in Northern Ireland hospitals by the end of the current year.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information requested is not available. However, the average number of available beds in Northern Ireland hospitals has decreased in each of the last five years from 16,595 in 1985 to 14,154 in 1989–90. These reductions are consistent with targets set in my Department's regional strategy (1987 to 1992) and I expect the downward trend to continue this year. Over the same period as above the number of patients treated increased from 290,109 to 315,962 as a result of the more intensive use of beds and greater concentration on day cases.