HC Deb 27 October 1987 vol 121 cc162-3
14. Mr. Butterfill

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultant geriatricians there are now compared with 1978.

Mrs. Currie

The number of consultants in geriatric medicine in England has increased from 330 in 1978 to 479 in 1986. That is an increase of nearly 50 per cent. and it demonstrates our commitment to care for the elderly in this country.

Mr. Butterfill

I offer my hon. Friend congratulations on such a satisfactory reply. Does she agree that the success of the NHS under this Government means that many people are living much longer than hitherto and that the demand for geriatric services is likely to increase still further in the future?

Mrs. Currie

Yes, I agree. The increasing number of old people in our society and rising life expectancy are a tribute to success in the Health Service. There are more nurses in the geriatric service, more district nurses, more private residential care, more nursing homes, more home helps, more day centres and more people cared for in day hospitals. We expect those increases to continue.

Mr. Janner

Is the Minister aware that far too many geriatric hospitals are outdated, ancient and inadequate and are totally unsuitable for the people who must live in them? Is the Minister aware that far too many pensioners are in hospitals because there is inadequate care available for them in their homes and that the entire system of care for old people is cracking?

Mrs. Currie

Perhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman is unaware that 1.6 million old people are currently cared for at home by home nurses and that that is a rapid increase on recent years. I take on board the point he makes about the tatty state of some old geriatric hospitals, and I hope that he will support the Government when we make moves to close and replace those hospitals.