To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community or cottage hospitals were operating in 1980; how many were closed in each subsequent year; and what the change was in the number of bed spaces as a result in each year. (165157)

These figures are not routinely collected. We are however aware that since 1980 some small hospitals have closed and some new health premises have opened. The policy developments for community hospitals contained in the “Our health, Our care, Our say” White Paper are leading to a wider range of provision of local health and social care services and this is supported by a £750 million capital investment programme for community hospitals and services.