§ 16. Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend, East) (Con)What estimate he has made of the impact on health service spending of the increase in life expectancy. [182197]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. John Hutton)The Wanless review reported that the impact of ageing on future health expenditure is likely to be small compared with other cost drivers.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorDoes the Minister agree that bed blocking by elderly patients remains a major difficulty in the health service that causes many problems for the medical services? Does he agree that the problem should be faced up to seriously because it will obviously get worse if we have more elderly patients? Does he think that the matter should be examined independently and carefully to determine whether we can find a real solution to bed blocking?
§ Mr. HuttonI do agree that we need to examine such issues carefully. I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Gentleman and the House that bed blocking in the national health service has reduced hugely, largely as a result of the new legislation and extra investment that we have put in place, both of which he and his hon. Friends opposed in the House.