§ Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects that the currently accepted optimum figure of two beds per 1,000 of population for geriatric treatment will be achieved in Ayrshire.
§ Mr. RossThe current target ratio in Scotland for the provision of geriatric beds in hospital is 15 per 1,000 of population over 65, which is the equivalent on present distribution of 1.7 per 1,000 of all population. This figure should be reached in Ayrshire by the end of this year.
§ Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now give an estimate as to when, in the next five years, the additional geriatric beds proposed for Ayrshire will be available.
§ Mr. RossForty additional geriatric beds at Ballochmyle Hospital and 16 at Ayrshire Central Hospital are expected to become available at about the end of this year, and the provisional date for commissioning the proposed 60-bed 281W extension at Biggart Home is 1971. After the Biggart extension is commissioned, the number of beds at Ayr Welfare Home will be reduced and some beds at Ballochmyle may be changed over to other specialties, leaving a planned net addition in Ayrshire of 80 geriatric beds.