§ 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 in the Salford metropolitan district council area; if he is aware of the difficulties encountered by relatives and doctors in obtaining such accommodation and of the resulting misery; if he will consider steps to relieve this shortage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe number of people in the area on waiting lists in the geriatric
432Wwaiting lists in the Harlow health district and for the two previous years:
specialty on 31st May 1978, and the length of time they had been awaiting admission, were:
Number of people Under three months 76 Three to six months 20 Six to twelve months 5 One to two years 3 Total 104 On 31st July 1978 there were approximately 165 elderly people awaiting admission to residential homes provided by the Salford city council.
Those requiring an emergency hospital bed, or an emergency place in a local authority home, are admitted without delay.
On the other Questions raised by my hon. Friend, I would refer him to my other reply to him today.