To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bed nights in each hospital trust were spent by patients who were ready for discharge but remained in hospital in the financial year (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of such delayed discharges in each such year. (286348)

The requested information has been placed in the Library.

No estimate has been made of the costs to the national health service of delayed discharges.