§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the bed complement at(a) the Doncaster royal infirmary and Montagu hospital trust and (b) the 282W Doncaster healthcare trust; and how many bed days have been lost since 1 April to date through (i) maintenance, (ii) refurbishment and (iii) lack of financial resources.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe average number of beds available daily at the Doncaster royal infirmary and Montagu hospital NHS trust at the end of March 1992 was 886. The remaining information is not held Centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. C. Bryant, chairman of Doncaster royal infirmary and Montagu hospital NHS trust, and Mr. P. Horsburgh, chairman of Doncaster healthcare NHS trust, for details.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the creation of a class of community bed for treatment of patients outside the acute hospital sector; and what proportion of patients in such beds she envisages will be treated by(a) general practitioners, (b) district nurses and (c) other categories of carers; and if she will specify what other categories are contemplated.
§ Mr. SackvilleCommunity hospitals have played an important role in the national health service for many years. It is for each health authority to determine, through contracts with the providers of health care, the pattern of local services best suited to the needs of the communities they serve.