§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the number of patients treated in acute hospital beds for each year since 1979; and what proportion were over pensionable age.
§ Mr. DorrellThe information requested is given in the table.
Estimated number of cases1 treated, acute sector2 NHS hospitals, England 1979 to 1988–89 (Thousands) Total (all ages) Over 65 Percentage age over 65 1979 4,750.2 1,137.3 23.9 1980 5,024.9 1,222.8 24.3 1981 5,153.5 1,280.9 24.9 1982 5,090.0 1,315.9 25.8 1983 5,443.7 1,387.5 25.5 1984 5,633.6 1,426.4 25.5 1985 5,802.9 1,511.9 26.0 1986 5,922.0 3— 3— 1987–88 5,921.0 1,513.0 25.6 1988–89 6,006.0 1,590.8 26.5 Note: The figures are estimates derived from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)—calendar years 1979–85—and the Hospital Episode System (HES) (from financial year 1987–88).
1 Ordinary admissions and day cases.
22 1979–86—Discharges and deaths from all specialties other than those relating to maternity, mental health, geriatics, units for the younger disabled and healthy liveborn infants.
1987–88 and 1988–89—As above but excluding pathology.
3 It is not possible to estimate a number for patients over 65 for 1986 because HIPE ceased in 1985 and HES did not start until 1987–88.