HC Deb 29 October 1979 vol 972 cc445-6W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many admissions were made to National Health Service hospitals in the last year for which figures are available.

Sir George Young

Hospital in-patient activity is measured in discharges and deaths rather than admissions. In 1978 there were approximately 5,350,000 inpatient discharges and deaths from National Health Service hospitals in England.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were awaiting admission to hospital and how many of those were urgent cases at the latest available date; and what was the average length of wait for both categories.

Sir George Young

On 31 March 1979, 752,450 people were awaiting admission to National Health Service hospitals in England, of whom 52,950 were awaiting "urgent" admission. Average waiting times are not available.