§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of geriatric patients in North Staffordshire and the number of beds available for their accommodation.
§ Mr. AlisonThere are at present 706 staffed beds in use for geriatric patients in hospitals in the North Staffordshire Hospital Group. This is equivalent to 51W 14 per 1,000 population aged 65 and over, compared with the recommended planning norm of 10 per 1,000. Numbers on waiting lists fluctuate ; at 31st March, 1971 there were 501 patients on the waiting list. It is expected that a further 84 geriatric beds will be provided by 1973 at the City General Hospital at Stoke.