Mrs. Jegerasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the difficulties in the London area, especially in winter, of getting hospital beds for acutely ill people who are also elderly; why the Emergency Bed Service always asks the age of a patient; and whether he will circularise regional boards and governors of teaching hospitals to remind them that age should not, of itself, be a deterrent to the admission of acutely ill people.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am aware that there are sometimes periods in the winter when owing to a high incidence of sickness there is difficulty in finding hospital beds for acutely ill patients requiring treatment in medical wards and that at these times the number of these patients who are elderly is likely to be high. A patient's age is simply one essential part of the medical information required.
Hospitals have been asked, in times of pressure indicated by a warning system, to make available additional accommodation for medical emergencies and the general arrangements for emergency admissions in the London area are kept under close review. I do not think that further action is required.