HC Deb 05 December 1972 vol 847 cc397-8W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many beds are available for short-term geriatric patients per 1,000 people in North Staffordshire, the West Midlands, and England, respectively;

(2) by what proportion the number of beds for geriatric patients has increased during the past five years in North Staffordshire, the West Midlands, and England, respectively.

Sir K. Joseph

2.7 beds per 1,000 elderly available in hospitals administered by the North Staffordshire Hospital Management Committee for short term assessment and initial treatment; comparable figures for the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board area and for England are not available. Figures for all geriatric beds are as follows:

Ratio of available geriatric beds per 1,000 elderly at 31st December, 1971 Percentage increase in available geriatric beds from 1966 to 1971
North Staffordshire Hospital Management Committee 12.1 2.8
Birmingham Regional Hospital Board 11.1 0.7
England 9.5 4.6
Recommended Ratio 10

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of geriatric beds is situated in general hospitals in North Staffordshire, the West Midlands, and England, respectively.

Sir K. Joseph

1.6 per cent. of geriatric beds in hospitals administered by the North Staffordshire Hospital Management Committee are in hospitals classified as acute, mainly acute or partly acute; the comparable figure for the Birmingham Hospital Region is 23.4 per cent. The figure for England is not readily available.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many old people in North Staffordshire on the A waiting list for geriatric beds have been awaiting admission for more than six months, 12 months, and two years, respectively;

(2) how many old people in North Staffordshire on the Accelerated Admission list for geriatric beds have been awaiting admission for more than six months, 12 months and two years, respectively.

Sir K. Joseph

Following is the information:

NUMBER OF PERSONS
Time on Waiting Lists 'A' Waiting List Accelerated Admission Waiting List
6 months and under 97 18
Over 6 months 1 0
Over 12 months 0 0
Over 2 years 0 0

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients on the A waiting list, and the Accelerated Admission waiting list, for geriatric beds in North Staffordshire have died while awaiting admission during each of the past five years.

Sir K. Joseph

Following are figures for hospitals administered by the North Staffordshire Hospital Management Committee showing also the estimated numbers of persons admitted to geriatric beds in the Gorup:

Year Deaths while on Waiting Lists Total Admissions (estimated)
1967 209 1,500
1968 226 1,600
1969 258 1,600
1970 218 1,700
1971 338 1,600