HC Deb 24 July 1978 vol 954 cc535-7W
Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average annual number of patients on hospital waiting lists in each of the past 10 years; and how many in each year have been urgent cases.

Mr. Moyle

The statistics collected by my Department show the actual numbers of people on waiting lists at the time of completion of a particular return. Average annual figures are not available. Urgent cases have been separately identifiable only since September 1975. The following information includes the latest available:

Mr. Moyle

The 1971 White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" suggested a pattern of services and guidelines of provision to be achieved by the early 1990s. The guideline figures in the 1975 White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Ill" were envisaged as taking some 20–30 years to achieve. Both sets of guidelines are broad national average guidelines. Local needs will vary with local circumstances. The following information about local provision relates to 31st March 1977:

NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON IN-PATIENT WAITING LISTS (ENGLAND)
At 31st December
Year All cases
1967 509,537
1968 505,107
1969 532,370
1970 525,926
1971 493,731
1972 479,199
1973 508,617
1974 517,424
1975 588,483
1976 606,968

2. Twice-yearly return
Date All cases Urgent cases
30th September 1975 519,552 36,872
31st March 1976 583,851 39,922
30th September 1976 588,264 37,737
31st March 1977 595,490 38,373
30th September 1977 591,096 40,257

Mr. Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present position of waiting lists at hospitals in the Peterborough health district; and how the figures compare with the position in July 1974 and July 1975.

Mr. Moyle

The number of patients on in-patient waiting lists in the Peterborough health districts at 30th June 1978 was 2,904. Comparable figures for June 1974 and June 1975 were 1,636 and 2,200 respectively. I understand that a unit containing an additional 120 geriatric beds, of which 100 are in the assessment and rehabilitation categories, is to be opened in 1979. It is hoped that this development will give some relief to pressure on acute beds.