§ 25. Mr. Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the percentage increase on geriatric hospital expenditure.
§ Sir K. JosephIn 1972–73 capital expenditure on hospital geriatric services 61W is estimated to be £18 million which represents a threefold increase in real terms over the figure for 1969–70. In hospitals dealing mainly with the elderly the costs per week between 1969–70 and 1971–72 increased by 12 per cent. in real terms as compared with 7 per cent. for the hospital service as a whole. These figures indicate the increasing priority which is being given to the development and improvement of provision for geriatric patients.