§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the approximate number of elderly people awaiting either hospital beds in geriatric wards or places in hostels; and the average waiting period; if he is aware of the extreme difficulties encountered by relatives and doctors in obtaining such accommodation and of the misery resulting, which is even more serious in particular areas; if he will consider a massive programme to relieve this shortage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe number of people on waiting lists in the geriatric specialty on 30th September 1977 in England was 4,743. I regret that information is not available centrally on average waiting times or on waiting lists for residential homes.
Delays in admission can cause serious difficulties for patients, relatives and staff but the unmet service needs of the elderly have to be weighed alongside the priority needs for health and personal social services within the limits of available resources.
In his Budget speech my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional allocation of £41 million for priority health service needs in England, including improvements in geriatric facilities.
My Department's current planning guidelines to health authorities encourage them to provide additional beds where these are necessary, but also stress the importance of other factors such as availability and use of rehabilitation facilities. Guidelines to local authorities encourage those with relatively low levels of residential accommodation to find a place in their capital programmes for more homes or to find equally effective ways of meeting need.
We shall review the balance of priorities in the light of the response to the discussion document "A Happier Old Age".