§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the United Kingdom are currently over 75 years of age; and what proportion is in hospital or residential care.
§ Mr. MoyleThe number of people in the United Kingdom aged 75 or over is currently estimated as 2,978,000. The proportion of this age group in residential homes for the elderly in 1976—the latest available date—was 4.8 per cent. This includes residents in local authority homes and those in voluntary or private homes, whether or not supported by a local authority. The proportion in hospitals in Great Britain in 1975, the latest available date, was 3.6 per cent. A comparable figure is not available for the United Kingdom as a whole.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the increase in the numbers of people over 75 years of age by 1991; and how many more hospital and residential care places will be needed to meet their needs assuming no change in the level of demand.
§ Mr. MoyleIt is estimated that by 1991 there will be about 3,232,000 people aged 75 and over, an increase of just over 20 per cent. I would not regard it as realistic to estimate the need for additional hospital and residential care places by assuming no change in the level of demand, in view of the increasing emphasis on rehabilitation and domiciliary care. However, in our planning guidelines to authorities we stressed the importance of reflecting the growing size of the elderly population in their plans, includ-676W ing the especially heavy demands to be expected from those over the age of 75.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many extra hospital and residential care places for the elderly are planned for 1991.
§ Mr. MoylePlans so far drawn up by health and local authorities do not look beyond the next 10 years, and assumptions are too tentative to permit an informed estimate of the level of hospital and residential provision in 1991.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to reduce the proportion of elderly people who require residential or hospital care; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleHigh priority is being given to the development of domiciliary provision for elderly people and the encouragement of other means designed to prevent or postpone the need for long-term care in hospital or residential homes. A research strategy has been developed to help further these aims. In order that ideas may be canvassed from many quarters, a discussion document will be publised shortly. This will be followed by a White Paper on the elderly in 1979 which will set out our general strategy.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of hospital beds is occupied by persons over 75 years of age; and what is his estimate of the proportion in 1991.
§ Mr. MoyleThe proportion of hospital beds occupied by patients aged 75 and over in England and Wales in 1975, the most recent year for which figures are available, is about 25 per cent. It is not possible to give an estimate for 1991. The emphasis we are placing on the development of acute geriatric units in general hospitals, with an active approach to the treatment and rehabilitation of the elderly, should progressively reduce hospital bed needs per unit of elderly population.