HC Deb 28 June 1999 vol 334 cc48-9W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has collected on the availability of acute service beds for mental health service patients. [88577]

Mr. Hutton

The table sets out the data for the latest year available.

Average daily number of available beds and average daily number
of occupied beds, mental illness wards open overnight
(i.e. 24 hours),
England 1997–98
Ward classification Available beds Occupied beds
Children
short stay 403 285
long stay 119 99
Elderly
short stay 7,382 6,119
long stay 7,410 6,090
Other ages
secure unit 1,921 1,566
short stay 14,458 13,188
long stay 4,908 4,300
Residential care 1,282 1,159