§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new hospitals were opened in each year since 1979. [129036]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 4 July 2000]: Eighty-seven major hospital developments (over £25 million at current prices) have taken place and become operational since 1980. Details are set out in the table. The low figure for 1999 is a consequence of the small number of major hospital developments which started during 1996 and 1997. This was due to all major developments having to test for private funding during this time.
Since 1 May 1997, 38 major hospital developments worth over £3.1 billion have been given the go ahead. The introduction of the private finance initiative into the National Health Service capital building programme will result in a dramatic increase in the number of major hospital developments in future years. The first of these developments, the new hospital at Carlisle, was officially opened on 16 June 2000.
Information collection began in 1980 and we therefore do not hold information for 1979.
332W
Year Number of major hospital developments completed 1980 0 1981 0 1982 0 1983 3 1984 4 1985 4 1986 6
Year Number of major hospital developments completed 1987 6 1988 9 1989 4 1990 6 1991 9 1992 8 1993 6 1994 1 1995 6 1996 6 1997 5 1998 4 1999 0 Total 87