§ Mr. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of acute hospital beds in the district general and teaching hospitals in the Greater Glasgow health board area is occupied by patients requiring geriatric or psychogeriatric care; and what proportion of orthopaedic, medical and surgical beds is so occupied;
(2) what is the average waiting time for admission to the various geriatric and 647W psychogeriatric hospitals in the Greater Glasgow health board area;
(3) what is the current estimate of the number of beds required for geriatric and psychogeriatric care in Scotland; and what is the total number of beds at present available in this sector;
(4) what is the current estimate of the number of beds required for geriatric and psychogeriatric care in the Greater Glasgow health board area; and how many beds are at present available in this sector;
(5) if he will describe the method employed in calculating the number of hospital beds required for geriatric and psychogeriatric care in the Greater Glasgow health board area.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThe current recommended level of provision for geriatric care is 15 beds per 1,000 population aged 65 years and over. At 31 March 1978, the latest date for which figures are available, there were in Scotland 10,375 geriatric beds in NHS hospitals, joint user hospitals and institutions with which health boards have contractual arrangements; this corresponds to 14.71 beds per 1,000 population aged 65 years and over. The equivalent figures for Greater Glasgow health board were 2,298 and 1499, respectively.
Psychogeriatric beds are included in the total psychiatric bed complement and separate figures are not available. There is no norm for psychogeriatric provision per 1,000 of relevant population equivalent to that for geriatric provision.
I am informed by the Greater Glasgow health board that about 7 per cent. of the acute beds in the board's area are occupied by patients who have completed their acute treatment and are considered in need of geriatric care. No equivalent figure for those in need of psychogeriatric care is available.
The information requested in respect of beds in each of the orthopaedic, medical and surgical specialties is not available. Nor is the information requested on waiting times for admission to geriatric and psychogeriatric hospitals in Greater Glasgow health board.