asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many, and what are the names of, National Health Service hospitals closed or working below full capacity as a result of the recent industrial dispute of National Health Service workers; what is his estimate of the increase in the waiting list of patients in each case as a result; and if he will make a statement.

The following hospitals were closed:

• Hull Hospital for Women
• Holme Place Convalescent Home
• Thames Ditton Hospital
• Molesey Hospital
• Malvern General Hospital
• South Bank Nursing Home

I am pleased to say three of these have now reopened. Information is not held centrally about individual hospitals working below full capacity as a result of this dispute, nor of its effect upon their waiting lists. Services in all regions were affected to varying degrees. Overall, over 9,000 hospital beds were temporarily closed, some 68,000 persons who would normally have been admitted to hospital were not, and about 380 hospitals restricted admissions to emergency cases only.