§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients died in National Health Service hospitals in each year since 1974.
§ Mr. John PattenThe numbers of deaths in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales are shown in the following table.
Deaths* in National Health Service Hospitalst† England and Wales 1974 to 1982 Deaths in NHS Hospitals Year Male Female 1974 164,429 161,720 1975 162,371 161,463 1976 168,736 168,282 1977 162,242 163,375 1978 165,650 166,092 1979 166,464 168,061 1980 165,319 167,175 1981 165,168 169,150 1982 167,329 171,187 * Includes any staff or visitors dying on the premises. † Includes NHS psychiatric hospitals, NHS homes and NHS sanatoria.