HC Deb 07 March 1988 vol 129 cc47-8W
Dr. Owen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each year since 1979 the number of road accident casualties admitted to hospital, the average length of hospital stay, and the cost to the National Health Service.

Mrs. Currie

The total cost to NHS hospitals of treating casualties arising from all road traffic accidents is estimated to be £121 million for 1985. I regret that accurate figures for previous years are not available. The other information requested is given in the table.

Estimated number of in-patient discharges1 and mean duration of stay of road traffic accident cases in NHS hospitals, England, 1979 to 1985
Year Estimated number Mean duration of stay (days)
1979 66,750 212.4
1980 65,070 212.6
1981 63,090 211.9
1982 63,690 12.0
1983 59,710 12.0
1984 59,190 11.6
1985 55,870 12.5
1Including deaths in hospital.
2Data relates to cases in England and Wales.