HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 cc623-4W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the bed occupancy rates were in(a) England, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) each NHS hospital trust in each year since 1996. [184098]

Mr. Hutton

Information on beds is collected on a provider basis from national health service organisations and the latest data available are for the year 2002–03. Beds data for 2003–04 will be published later this year.

The table shows the average occupancy rate for England between 1996–97 and 2002–03.

NHS organisation data are available from the Department's website from 2000-01 at www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/index.htm. Beds data from 1987–88 to 1999–2000 are available in the Library.

Average daily number of available and occupied beds in wards open overnight, England, 1996–97 to 2002–03
Percentage occupancy
All specialties General and acute
1996–97 81.3 80.8
1997–98 80.9 80.5
1998–99 82.5 82.5
1999–2000 82.7 83.1
2000–01 84.0 84.7
2001–02 85.1 86.0
2002–03 85.4 86.5
Source:
Department of Health form KHO3