HC Deb 04 July 1955 vol 543 c64W
Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

asked the Minister of Health how many persons were waiting for admission to hospitals in England and Wales in December, 1954, December, 1953, and December, 1951; and what proportion of these persons were chronically ill old people.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The number of persons waiting for admission to hospitals in England and Wales was 470,213 in December, 1954 (provisional figure), 526,041 in December, 1953, and 503,584 in December, 1951. Of these 2.11 per cent., 1.74 per cent. and 1.75 per cent. respectively were chronically sick, the overwhelming majority of them being old people.