Intensive Care Beds (Hansard, 24 January 2000)

§ Mr. Maclean
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) intensive care beds and (b) high dependency beds there were within the NHS in each of the last 30 years. [105676]
103W

§ Mr. Denham
Available information is the average daily number of available and occupied beds by ward type for each National Health Service trust. This is published annually in "Bed Availability and Occupancy, England" and is available in the Library. However, this was an intensive care ward-based count. As wards classified as intensive care can also contain other types of beds, we have piloted a new census focusing specifically on adult intensive care and high dependency beds. We will publish the results in due course.

§ Mr. Boswell
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional intensive care beds were created in each NHS trust hospital during 1999; and how many were withdrawn from use in that year. [106204]

§ Mr. Denham
Information is not available in the form requested. However, we introduced on 31 March 1999 the first of a twice yearly census of intensive care and high dependency beds. A further census was taken on 30 September 1999. We will publish the results in due course.

§ Mr. Wilshire
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will (1) list the number of intensive care beds opened at each hospital since 1 May 1997, giving the date of opening in each case; [106176]
(2) list the number of intensive care beds at each hospital that have been closed since 1 May 1997, giving the date of closure in each case. [105893]

§ Mr. Denham
The information requested is not available centrally. Available information is the average daily number of available beds by ward type for each National Health Service trust. This is published annually in "Bed Availability and Occupancy, England" and copies are in the Library. However, this is a ward-based count and as wards classified as intensive care can also contain other beds, we have piloted a new twice yearly census focusing specifically on adult intensive care and high dependency beds. We will publish the results in due course.