§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of cottage hospitals closed in 1996 and planned to be closed in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the future of cottage hospitals. [13639]
§ Mr. HoramThe term "cottage hospital" is used to describe a wide range of facilities, data on which are not held centrally. The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 led to the development of numerous community and primary care facilities, and recent White Papers have announced further ways in which a range of local services might be further developed.