§ 19. Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the overall capacity of the acute hospital sector in Worcestershire. [129967]
§ Dr. LadymanSignificant investment has been made available nationally to accommodate the required increase in national health service capacity. Primary Care Trust revenue allocations for the three Worcestershire PCTs will rise to £426 million in 2003–04 and will reach £510 million by 2005–06, an overall total increase of 30.4 per cent., for the three years up to 2005–06.
Prior to the completion of the Worcestershire Royal hospital there were 1,035 acute beds in Worcestershire. Since the opening of the new hospital there are 1,044 acute beds available in the county.