§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 6 February, Official Report, column 503, if he will compare the
England 1960 1970 1980 1982 1. Average daily number of occupied beds in departments of geriatric medicine* in NHS hospitals 52,031 53,595 50,548 50,692 2. Number of people† aged over 65 in local authority residential homes 60,993 86,857 102,890 103,668 3. Number of people† aged over 65 in voluntary and private residential care homes‡ n/a 41,352 54,303 61,955 4. Number of beds designated for use of elderly patients in nursing homes registered under the Nursing Homes Act 1975 n/a n/a n/a 18,197 5. Estimated total population aged 65 and over (including those in items 1 to 4 above)—thousands 5,150.0 5,980.2 6,998.0 7,107.4 * 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. † As at 31 December 1960 and 1970, and 31 March 1980 and 1982. ‡ Figures include residents who were sponsored by local authorities. n/a=Not available.