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Mr. Robin Cook
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each year from 1979 to 1989 the number of hospitals (a) totally closed and (b) partially closed.
Mr. Freeman
The number of hospitals which were approved for permanent total or partial closure from 1979 to 1989 are shown in the table:
Year of approval | Total closure | Partial closure |
1979 | 29 | 6 |
1980 | 38 | 4 |
1981 | 37 | 17 |
1982 | 18 | 10 |
1983 | 58 | 18 |
1984 | 59 | 27 |
1985 | 24 | 19 |
1986 | 48 | 29 |
1987 | 33 | 34 |
1988 | 64 | 181 |
1989 | 22 | 160 |
1Provisional figures. |
Source: health authority returns.
Hospital closures are an integral part of local health authorities' planning and management. They are made for many reasons and are often balanced by new openings or other reprovision.