HC Deb 06 November 1959 vol 612 cc82-3W
Mr. Grey

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of mentally defective children in the northern region who were waiting for hospital accommodation in 1950, and for each year to date.

Miss Pitt

Information for 1950 is not available. For the subsequent years I understand that the numbers are as follows (they relate to children under 16 years of age at 31st December):

1951 428
1952 463
1953 427
1954 311
1955 299
1956 264
1957 220
1958 264

Mr. Grey

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of persons who were on the waiting list for hospital beds in the northern region in 1950 and for each year to date.

Miss Pitt

I understand that the numbers of names on the waiting lists were as follows:—

Thousands
1950 (November) 27.8
1951 (November) 27.6
1952 (November) 27.7
1953 (November) 27.7
1954 (November) 23.9
1955 (November) 22.5
1956 (November) 22.9
1957 (November) 24.2
1958 (November) 23.8
1959 (May) 26.0

Mr. Grey

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of persons waiting for hospital beds in the northern region for periods of three months, six months, nine months and 12 months, respectfully.

Miss Pitt

Information in the precise form requested is not available, but I understand that on 31st May, 1959, 9,787 names had been on the waiting list for up to two months, 4,248 between two and four months, 6,665 between four and twelve months, and 5,277 for twelve months and over.