The number of occupied and available bed days and day only beds is collected annually, from national health service providers. The following table shows the average daily number of available and occupied beds in wards open overnight by ward classification in England, 2003-04 to 2007-08.
Bed numbers have fallen because hospitals are dealing with patients more efficiently and more people are treated in primary care settings—experts all agree that this is the best way to deliver health care to patients.
Advances in medical technology and shorter stays for routine operations mean fewer beds are needed across the service—this is part of a long-term downward trend in the average length of stay in hospital.
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Ward classification Available beds Occupied beds Available beds Occupied beds Available beds Occupied beds Available beds Occupied beds Available beds Occupied beds All ward types 184,019 157,862 180,966 154,215 175,436 148,465 167,019 141,133 160,297 135,132 Intensive care: neonates 1,491 1,084 1,523 1,120 1,707 1,207 1,658 1,233 1,734 1,257 Intensive care: paediatric 239 164 263 201 321 236 335 246 306 217 Intensive care: wholly or mainly adult 3,283 2,635 3,417 2,763 3,454 2,736 3,622 2,918 3,667 2,953 Terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult 386 302 436 338 427 320 395 309 411 316 Younger physically disabled 914 738 859 698 792 649 566 445 512 392 Other general and acute: neonates and children 9,191 5,639 8,995 5,477 8,584 5,338 8,461 5,276 8,314 5,315 Other general and acute: elderly: normal care 25,580 23,713 24,853 22,826 22,987 21,134 21,141 19,381 19,239 17,562 Other general and acute: elderly: limited care 1,874 1,612 1,788 1,497 1,705 1,466 1,756 1,515 1,462 1,233 Other general and acute: other 94,289 83,409 94,030 82,350 92,850 80,805 89,042 77,047 86,137 74,670 Maternity 9,309 5,896 9,081 5,727 8,881 5,774 8,643 5,567 8,441 5,397 Mental illness: children: short stay 460 333 505 360 492 328 462 312 505 355 Mental illness: children: long stay 58 42 20 14 17 15 35 25 18 15 Mental illness: elderly: short stay 7,528 6,304 7,475 6,202 7,343 6,016 6,945 5,726 6,577 5,320 Mental illness: elderly: long stay 4,574 3,773 4,043 3,409 3,591 2,909 2,832 2,346 2,417 2,007 Mental illness: other ages: secure unit 2,569 2,378 2,696 2,472 2,807 2,545 2,993 2,722 3,159 2,885 Mental illness: other ages: short stay 13,268 12,191 12,891 11,840 12,419 11,050 11,761 10,556 11,372 10,112 Mental illness: other ages: long stay 3,795 3,264 3,656 3,183 3,134 2,646 2,887 2,545 2,880 2,551 Learning disabilities: children: short stay 229 147 258 169 208 134 182 123 185 107 Learning disabilities: children: long stay 59 41 46 34 26 21 42 37 23 17 Learning disabilities: other ages: secure unit 514 470 503 484 526 502 516 489 554 508 Learning disabilities: other ages: short stay 1,210 955 1,222 962 1,188 938 1,098 867 1,053 774 Learning disabilities: other ages: long stay 3,199 2,771 2,387 2,087 1,978 1,696 1,649 1,448 1,332 1,169 Source: Department of Health form KH03.