To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have been closed within the Trent region during the last five years.

The following table gives the numbers of hospitals/facilities which we are aware were approved for total closure in the last five years in the Trent region.

Hospital/facilities closed		Hospital/facilities opened		In-patients treated	Out-patients treated
Calendar year		Financial year
1989	13	—	—	—	—
1988	9	1988–89	9	626,101	3,335,852
1987	4	1987–88	8	612,890	3,343,899
1986	7	1986	7	592,398	3,400,645
1985	1	1985	8	578,370	3,300,193

It is important to bear it in mind that closures are often balanced by new facilities or other reprovision and that the closure figures in themselves do not necessarily reflect any reduction in overall service provision.