§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trusts are(a) acute, (b) community and (c) both community and acute; and how many amalgamations of acute and community trusts there have been in the last five years in England and Wales. [147230]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 25 January 2001]: In England, there are 144 acute trusts, 128 community trusts and 53 acute and community trusts. These figures exclude community trusts with no consultant-led services and primary care trusts. There have been six amalgamations of acute and community trusts in England in the last five years and eight other mergers forming acute and community trusts but involving combinations of acute, community, or acute and community trusts with existing acute and community trusts. Questions about health services in Wales are a matter for the devolved Assembly.