§ 28. Mr. Roweasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the increase in the number of elderly people treated by district nurses or visited by health visitors in their homes.
§ Mr. John PattenThe total number of persons aged 65 and over in England who were visited at home by district nurses increased by 22 per cent. between 1978 and 1983. If visits to residential homes are included the corresponding increase is 24 per cent. Over the same period visits by health visitors to persons aged 65 and over decreased by 10 per cent. This decline has been largely arrested since 1981 and this reflects the growing recognition by health authorities of the needs of elderly people living in the community.