HC Deb 13 February 1976 vol 905 cc424-5W
Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the number of patients occupying beds in general hospitals because there are no geriatric beds available for them.

Dr. Owen

There are no nationally accepted criteria for admission to geriatric beds. It is, therefore, not possible to estimate centrally the numbers of patients who should be, at any given time, in the care of geriatric physicians rather than consultants in other specialties. It is, however, my Department's policy to expand the number of acute geriatric units in general hospitals. This is to ensure that patients in geriatric departments requiring acute care benefit from the full range of general hospital diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation facilities.