HC Deb 16 March 1993 vol 221 cc191-2W
Dr. Hendron

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beds for patients there are in the Royal Victoria hospital at present and how many there were during each of the last five years.

Mr. Hanley

The average numbers of available beds in the Royal Victoria hospital from 1987 to 1991–92 are as follows:

Number
1987 1,008
1988–89 1,019
1989–90 977
1990–91 939
1991–92 879

Information on the number of available beds at present in the Royal Victoria hospital is not held centrally.

Dr. Hendron

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nurses will be employed at the Royal Victoria hospital at the end of 1993.

Mr. Hanley

It is not possible to state the number of nurses who will be employed at the Royal Victoria hospital at the end of 1993. This will be determined on the basis of service requirements at that time.

Dr. Hendron

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nurses have been employed at the Royal Victoria hospital for each of the last five years; and what was the ratio of nurses to patients in each year.

Mr. Hanley

The information is set out in the table.

Number of nurses Nurse (WTE)/Patient Days ratio2
Year Total W.T.E1
1988–89 1,388 1,085.70 1:266
1989–90 1,408 1,110.10 1:253
1990–91 1,398 1,107.88 1:243
1991–92 1,475 1,190.26 1:218
1W.T.E = Whole Time Equivalent.
2Nurse to patient ratios are calculated on the basis of one nurse (whole-time equivalent) to the number of patient days (excluding out-patients).