§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds there are in England and Wales, the North-West, and Salford, respectively.
§ Dr. OwenAs 31st March 1975, 5,141 and 285 beds respectively for the North-West and Salford. At 13th June 1974—the latest available figures for England and Wales—56,223 and 3,617 beds respectively.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Social Services approximately how many people are waiting for geriatric beds in England and Wales, the North-West, and Salford, respectively.
§ Dr. OwenAt 31st March 1975, 664 and 154 for the North-West and Salford respectively. At 31st December 1973—4W latest available figures—6,735 and 342 for England and Wales respectively.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Social Services approximately how long on average patients have to wait for geriatric beds in England and Wales, the North-West, and Salford, respectively.
§ Dr. OwenAverages are misleading, as waiting times for admission vary according to the circumstances of individual cases. Of the 664 people awaiting beds in the North-West at 31st March 1975, 533 had been waiting less than three months, 88 from three to six months, 36 from six to 12 months, four from one to two years and three over two years. Of the 154 people in Salford at 31st March 1975, 100 had been waiting less than three months, 41 from three to six months, and 13 from six to 12 months. Figures are not readily available for England and Wales.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is aware of the difficulty and sometimes impossibility of getting old, sick people living on their own into geriatric hospital beds; if she will take steps to end the delays; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenI am aware of the problems which arise in some areas in securing admission to hospital of elderly patients needing geriatric treatment. The Government are fully conscious of the need to expand and improve hospital services for the elderly. As my right hon. Friend announced in her reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins) on 15th April—[Vol. 890, c.85–8]—despite the restrictions on public expenditure, the health capital programme would provide for some priority for geriatric programmes. I have asked health authorities to maintain expenditure on geriatric services at approximately present levels when considering their building programmes for 1975–76. A specific allocation of £16.4 million has been made for this year for geriatric services and for services for elderly patients with severe dementia and further sums will be added from health authorities' main programme allocations.
5W
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the weekly cost of keeping a patient in High View Hospital, Exhall.
Mr. Leslie Huckfleldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the weekly cost of keeping a geriatric patient in Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry;
(2) what is the weekly cost of keeping a geriatric patient in George Eliot Hospital.
§ Dr. OwenIn 1973–74 the average cost per in-patient week at Walsgrave and George Eliot Hospitals was £130.51 and £91.07 respectively. It is not possible to identify separately the average cost for geriatric patients.
Mr. Leslie Huckfleldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the weekly cost of keeping a geriatric patient in the Manor Hospital, Nuneaton;
(2) how many geriatric beds there are in the Manor Hospital, Nuneaton.
Mr. Leslie Huckfleldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many geriatric patients are currently awaiting admission to hospitals in the Nuneaton and Coventry areas;
(2) how many geriatric patients currently residing in senior citizens' accommodation provided by local authorities are awaiting admission to hospital in the Nuneaton and Coventry areas.
§ Dr. OwenEleven patients in Nuneaton and 59 in Coventry are on the waiting list for admission to a geriatric bed. Of these three in Coventry, but none in Nuneaton, live in local authortiy residential accommodation.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds there are in Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry.
§ Dr. OwenTwenty-six at present but a further 196 under construction are expected to be ready later this year.
6W
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds there are in High View Hospital.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds there are in George Eliot Hospital.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will make a statement about the proposed closure of High View Hospital, Exhall.
§ Dr. OwenThere is no proposal at present for the closure of High View Hospital. The health authorities are considering the implications of the National Coal Board's plans for mining in the area.