§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on changes in bed numbers in the care home sector in Herefordshire since 1997. [41495]
§ Jacqui SmithThe table shows the number of places in residential care homes and the number of registered nursing beds in the Hereford and Worcester1 area between 1997 and 2001.
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At 31 March Number Year Number of places in residential care homes Number of registered beds in nursing homes2 19973 5,552 3,383 1998 5,413 3,654 1999 5,543 3,980 2000 5,392 3,526 2001 5,080 3,365 1 Information is presented for the former Local Authority district of Hereford and Worcester to ensure details of residential places given in the table are on consistent boundaries. (At 1 April, 1998 the Unitary authority of Herefordshire and the shire county area of Worcestershire were created). 2 Registered beds in general and mental nursing homes, hospitals and clinics. Information is presented on nursing beds for the two Health Authorities of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (equating to the former local authority district of Hereford and Worcester). 3 Information for registered nursing beds for 1997 relates to the period 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1997. Source: Department of Health annual returns.