Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many hospital beds there were in England in (1) 2005, (2) 2010, and (3) 2019.
Answered on
8 April 2022
The information is not held in the format requested. Prior to 2010/11, data on average bed capacity was collected by ward classification or sector. The following table shows the average daily bed capacity by sector in 2005/06.
All specialties | Average bed capacity |
General and acute | 132,826 |
Acute | 108,134 |
Geriatric | 24,692 |
Mental illness | 29,802 |
Learning disability | 3,927 |
Maternity | 8,881 |
Day only | 9,726 |
Source: Department of Health
From 2010/11, quarterly data is available from all National Health Service organisations which operate beds, open overnight or day only. The following table shows the average daily and occupied beds times series in each Quarter in 2010/11 and 2019/20.
Year | Quarter | Total |
2010/11 | 1 | 144,455 |
2010/11 | 2 | 141,477 |
2010/11 | 3 | 141,630 |
2010/11 | 4 | 142,319 |
2019/20 | 1 | 128,407 |
2019/20 | 2 | 127,186 |
2019/20 | 3 | 128,326 |
2019/20 | 4 | 128,943 |
Source: NHS England