§ Mr. Tom Boardmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many geriatric beds were provided by Leicester No. 1 and No. 2 Hospital Management Committees on 1st January, 1972; and what are the numbers planned for 1st January, 1973, and 1st January, 1974, respectively;
(2) how many additional geriatric beds were originally planned to be provided at the Leicester General Hospital; and what is the number now proposed;
(3) what is the estimated ratio of geriatric beds provided or to be provided by Leicester Nos. 1 and 2 Hospital Management Committees per thousand 296W elderly people living in the areas covered by such committees on 1st January, 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.
§ Mr. AlisonAt 1st January, 1972, there were 876 geriatric beds in the two groups representing 9.4 beds per 1,000 elderly population. There is no change in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's plan to provide 240 additional beds by 1974 at Leicester General Hospital to replace the service at Hillcrest Hospital. On this basis the board envisages there will be 889 geriatric beds at 31st March, 1973 (9.2 per 1,000 elderly) and 869 at 31st March, 1974 (9.0 per 1,000 elderly) following the proposed closure of Hill-crest Hospital. The board plans to provide extra geriatric beds by 1976 to bring the ratio in the area up to 10 per 1,000entirely.