HC Deb 24 March 2000 vol 346 c710W
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available(a) nationally and (b) in London in each year from 1979 to 1999. [115103]

Mr. Denham

The information requested is available in the table.

Average daily number of available beds open overnight, England 1979 to 1998–99 and London regional office area 1984 to 1998–99
Year England London regional office area
1979 361,670
1980 355,978
1981 351,669
1982 348,104
1983 343,091
1984 334,513 57,766
1985 325,487 55,518
1986 315,714 53,029
1987–88 297,338 49,403
1988–89 282,897 47,040
1989–90 270,309 44,810
1990–91 255,479 39,042
1991–92 242,677 38,914
1992–93 232,201 37,586
1993–94 219,476 35,294
1994–95 211,812 32,815
1995–96 206,136 32,683
1996–97 198,848 31,763
1997–98 193,625 31,210
1998–99 190,006 30,604

Source:

DH form KH03 and SH3

Data are collected by individual NHS trusts or units. Figures for earlier years have been aggregated to reflect the London Regional Office area introduced in 1998–99. Aggregation is not possible prior to 1984 as raw data are not available.