§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds are at present available in the Wessex Regional Hospital Board area; how many of these are in district general hospitals, geriatric hospitals and community hospitals, respectively; what plans have been submitted to him by the Wessex Regional Hospital Board to increase the number of available geriatric beds; and what increase he has approved.
§ Mr. AlisonAt 31st March 1973, the latest date for which information is available, 2,595 beds were available of which 790 were in district general hospitals, 222 in other acute hospitals and 1,583 in geriatric hospitals. No community hospitals designated as such exist at present. These beds represent 8.3 per 1,000 elderly population. It is the board's policy, as soon as resources permit, to increase the ratio to the Department's recommended planning norm of 10 per 1,000. Firm plans already exist to provide a further 217 beds, raising the ratio to 9 per 1,000 by 1978. The board is 67W now considering the recommendations of a working party concerning the care of the elderly throughout the region, with a view to establishing priorities, the rate at which the recommendations may be implemented, and the need for adjustment of the board's capital programme.