HC Deb 19 January 1970 vol 794 cc32-5W
Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of old people received into hospital each year, for whatever cause, who are suffering from malnutrition.

Dr. John Dunwoody

Information is not available for an estimate for the country as a whole. An inquiry in 1967, limited to about 1,200 patients coming into the care of geriatric physicians in 38 hospitals, showed that 11.9 per cent. had some form of malnutrition on admission. This included 4.6 per cent. with obesity and a significant proportion with osteoporosis (of doubtful nutritional origin) or malnutrition secondary to such non-nutritional causes as cancer.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of old people who are inadequately nourished; and what is the standard of nutrition which his Department uses.

Dr. John Dunwoody

While no firm estimate is possible, I am advised that the available evidence suggests the number is small. Assessment is based on clinical and biochemical findings, and information about the individual's diet.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many day centres and residential homes for old people are in existence and under construction, respectively; for how many loan sanction has been applied for and approved, respectively; for how many approval of loan sanction is pending; and for how many loan sanction has been refused in each of the past three years.

Dr. John Dunwoody

The estimated numbers of day centres for the elderly and local authority old people's homes in England at 31st December 1969 are 183 and 2,089 respectively. Loan sanction has been issued for 19 day centres and 177 homes which have not yet been opened. The following is the information relating to loan sanctions for 1966–67 to 1968–69.

Day Centres Residential Homes
Financial Year Loan Sanction Loan Sanction
Applications received Approvals given Applications received Approvals given
1966–67 16 15 87 90
1967–68 18 19 107 102
1968–69 25 24 102 105
59 58 296 297

No applications have been refused or are pending; control is exercised by approval of annual programmes.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of old people who require home helps, and of the number of old people who receive home helps.

Dr. John Dunwoody

The number of persons aged 65 or over who received home help in 1968 in England was 334,096, an increase of just under 25 per cent. since 1964 (268,565). No precise estimate is possible of the number requiring help but I hope that the recent Government Social Survey Study, the report of which is due to be published shortly, will give some help in this direction.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of old people who require home nurses, and of the number of old people who receive home nurses.

Dr. John Dunwoody

I regret the information is not available for an estimate of the number of old people who require a home nurse. In 1968 home nurses in England visited 465,779 people who were aged 65 or over at the time of the first visit (an increase of 15 per cent. since 1964).

Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of old people who require health visitors, and of the number of old people who receive health visitors.

Dr. John Dunwoody

Information is not available for an estimate of the number of old people who require health visitors. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane) on 19th December, 1969.—[Vol. 793, c.473–4.]

Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of old people who require chiropodists, and of the number of old people who receive chiropodists.

Dr. John Dunwoody

In 1968, 757,486 old people received chiropody treatment in England through the services provided directly or indirectly by local authorities. I have no information which would enable me to estimate the number of old people who need the services of a chiropodist, or the number who obtain such services otherwise than from local authorities and their agents.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimate of the number of old people who need meals on wheels, and of the number of old people who do not receive the Meals on Wheels service.

Dr. John Dunwoody

About 96,000 elderly people in England receive meals-on-wheels. The number who could benefit from meals on wheels is certainly very much larger, but no precise estimate is available.