§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average daily number of occupied beds designated as geriatric in England in 1960, 1970, 1980 and the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will also show this as a percentage of the average daily total of occupied beds in National Health Service hospitals.
§ Mr. John PattenThe available information is given in the table:
Average daily number of occupied beds in departments of geriatric medicine* in NHS hospitals in England Number Percentage of total occupied beds 1960 52,031 13.4 1970 53,595 15.3 1980 50,548 17.5 1982 (provisional) 50,737 18.1 * The definition of geriatric beds was changed in 1972 to include patients suffering from a condition of chronic disability not cared for in units for the younger disabled. Figures for 1960 and 1970, therefore include beds for the chronic sick, to assist comparability.