§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of emergency beds in NHS hospitals during(a) the current winter and (b) the winter of 1995–96; and what measures he is taking, or has taken, to ensure availability when required. [18458]
§ Mr. HoramIn the national health service, use of beds is not necessarily limited to either emergency or elective patients and therefore the number of "emergency beds" is not recorded centrally.
The most recent information on acute bed availability can be found in "Bed Availability for England 1995–96", copies of which can be found in the Library.