§ Mr. Peter M. Jacksonasked the Minister of Health how many cases of abortion of all types are admitted to hospital annually; how many of these are therapeutic and how many septic; and what is the average length of hospitalisation.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe most recent estimates available for England and Wales for discharges (including deaths) after abortions from National Health Service hospitals only, based on a 10 per cent. sample inquiry, are:
Year All abortions Therapeutic abortions Septic abortions 1961 … 69,000 2,300 2,900 1962 … 72,000 2,800 2,600 1963 … 72,000 2,600 2,800 1964 … 75,000 3,300 3,000 The average length of stay is available only for 1962 and 1963 and was 5.7 and 5.6 days respectively (all abortions). The figures given may not include some cases of therapeutic abortion where the diagnosis is attributed to the major cause which may be the disease for which the operation was performed rather than the operation itself.