§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many(a) service personnel and (b) civilians were treated at (i) Royal Navy hospital Stonehouse, (ii) RAF hospital Ely and (iii) RAF hospital Halton in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
(2) how many beds were provided at (a) Royal Navy hospital Stonehouse, (b) RAF hospital Ely and (c) RAF hospital Halton in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
(3) what discussions his Department has had with local health authorities regarding the closure of military hospitals.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information requested in respect of patients treated and bed numbers is as follows:
1990 1991 1992 Royal Navy hospital Plymouth (Stonehouse) Service patients 14,861 13,418 11,224 Civilian patients 38,025 38,135 31,453 Available beds 89 86 100 The Princess of Wales' Royal Air Force hospital Ely1 Service patients 13,175 10,899 7,278 Civilian patients 37,121 12,599 5,578 Available beds 137 82 81 Princess Mary's Royal Air Force hospital Halton Service patients 12,378 11,231 15,455 Civilian patients 25,875 21,404 23,835 Available beds 141 127 158 1 The Princess of Wales' Royal Air Force hospital Ely ceased patient care on 31 July 1992. My Department has sought the views of all local health bodies affected by our proposals for the reorganisation of the armed forces' secondary medical care in the United Kingdom under which a number of military hospitals have been proposed for closure. Our discussions with the NHS continue.