Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) isolation units and beds within those units, (b) infectious disease units and beds within those units and (c) infectious disease consultants there were in each year since 2010; what the geographical spread was of those units and consultants; and whether the Government plans to expand the number of those units and consultants to tackle the current threat of Ebola disease.

The Secretary of State laid out what hospital facilities were available for the treatment of Ebola patients during his statement to the House on 13 October (Hansard columns 38 to 46).

The National Health Service has a network of clinicians and infectious diseases units that work in a collaborative manner to manage patients with infectious diseases. In rare and complex infections, treatment is likely to include the use of isolation facilities with appropriate air handling and air filtration systems (for the protection of staff and public as per the Health & Safety Executive Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens guidelines). The use of beds is managed through the network and escalated as necessary based on the needs of the presenting patient. This network of units will continue to work together with NHS England to manage the current threat of Ebola as they would with any new or emerging infectious disease.