§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what annual rate of reduction in hospital beds she has assumed for the next eight years; and what assessment she has made of the likely impact of such reductions on patient care.
§ Mr. SackvilleI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him and the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 28 June,Official Report, column 536. We have made no such assumptions. The disposition and number of hospital beds is a matter for local determination. However, we confidently expect that future developments in medical science and technology and in clinical practice will enable an increasing number of patients to be treated as day cases or in their own homes, leading to reductions in the number of hospital beds required, continuing the trend in evidence since 1960.