HC Deb 17 September 2003 vol 410 cc845-6W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients whose address was listed as no fixed abode were admitted to NHS hospitals between January and June. [129489]

Mr. Hutton

Data are not yet available for January to June, 2002 or 2003. Information shown in the table is for January to June 2001. Due to the nature of homelessness, it may not always be possible to accurately record information. The figures quoted in the response are likely to significantly undercount the 'true' values. This is because in many cases people of no fixed abode may be admitted from temporary accommodation such as a hostel or be sleeping at a friend's home and are coded accordingly.

Finished Admissions into NHS hospitals where place of residence is listed as no fixed abode
Number
January 2001 to June 2001 3,267

Notes:

Data in this table are ungrossed

Data exclude all healthy newborn babies.

source:

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health