§ Mr. MatesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the 5,000 extra intermediate care beds in the NHS Plan(a) have been provided and are in use,(b) are part of schemes that are in procurement and (c) are still to be designated. [105002]
§ Jacqui SmithBy the end of December 2002 (latest figures available), there were approximately 3,300 extra intermediate care beds, compared with 1999–2000. Over the two years 2002–03 and 2003–04, £66 million has been made available to fund intermediate care capital development schemes. This funding will deliver a total of approximately 1,800 additional intermediate care beds. Around 150 of these beds became operational by December 2002 and are therefore included in the December 2002 figures. Recent trends in the underlying growth in the number of intermediate care beds indicate that the NHS Plan target will be met.