§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Seccretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds there are in the Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley Health Authority Areas, respectively; how many persons are on each waiting list; and if he will make a statement on what action he is taking to enable these area health authorities to reduce such waiting lists.
§ Mr. MoyleAs at 30th June 1976 there were 296 staffed geriatric beds in use in Doncaster area, 348 in Rotherham and 259 in Barnsley. There were 41 persons on the waiting list at Barnsley. Waiting lists are not maintained in this specialty in Doncaster and Rotherham, the policy being to admit patients according to their need at the time as assessed by the consultant medical staff. It is for the area health authorities to decide how best to deploy the limited resources available to them to meet the needs of the population they serve. Accommodation providing 26 and 96 additional geriatric beds is under construction in Rotherham and Barnsley respectively.