§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what approximate proportion of National Health Ser- 278W vice hospital beds is occupied by women over 60 and men over 65 years of age; what is the average length of their stay in hospital; and if he has any evidence to suggest that they stay beyond the time when they are fit to leave because it is impossible for them to return to their previous accommodation.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation in the form requested is not available. In 1972, in England and Wales women aged 65 and over occupied 28 per cent. of all hospital beds. The corresponding figure for men was 14 per cent. The average length of stay is not a meaningful figure; in non-psychiatric hospitals, the median length of stay for men and women together was 12 days.
I have no detailed evidence on the extent to which the length of stay of elderly patients is influenced by their inability to return to their previous accommodation, although it is known that delay in discharge sometimes occurs for a variety of reasons. This is a matter for resolution in individual cases by discussion between relatives, hospital and local authority staff as appropriate. The joint consultative committees of health and local authorities which are being established for the reorganised National Health Service will be able to examine particular difficulties within their areas.