HC Deb 12 December 1973 vol 866 cc138-9W
Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of stay in hospital for women having their babies in hospital.

Mr. Alison

The main length of stay in hospital for women having their babies in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales in 1972 was 7.5 days. The mean length of stay following the delivery was six days for these women.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women had their babies in hospital in the years 1967 to date, respectively; and how many were in hospital for more than 72 hours in each year.

Mr. Alison

The information requested is as follows:

Year Live and still births in hospital Percentage of women delivered in N.H.S. hospitals who stayed 4 or more nights
1967 657,136 77
1968 670,221 76
1969 676,254 74
1970 687,748 72
1971 706,409 70
1972 671,465 69

The information refers to England and Wales.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the proportion and number of women who have home confinements as opposed to women who have their babies in hospital.

Mr. Alison

The following schedule of live and still births in England and Wales gives numbers and percentages of those born in National Health Service hospitals other hospitals and domiciliary births: