§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of hospitals in England in 1979, 1991 and 1992.
§ Mr. SackvilleIn 1979 there were 2,023 hospitals in England making activity returns, and in 1990–91 there were 1,578. Over the same period the number of hospital in-patient cases treated rose by an estimated 25 per cent. to 7.5 million finished consultant episodes in 1990–91. From 1991–92 returns refer to national health service trusts (which may comprise more than one unit) and district health authorities (covering all directly managed units) and data on the number of individual units are not available.