§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many community hospitals have been(a) placed under review and (b) closed since 1 May 1997; [34443]
(2) how many community hospitals in the United Kingdom are currently under review. [34436]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 13 March 1998]It is difficult comprehensively to define what is meant by "community" or "cottage" hospital. They differ from place to place in the scale, range and volume of services they offer. What characterises nearly all is that they provide a local service and admit patients under the care of a general practitioner.