§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of future plans to increase 478W the number of geriatric beds and places in old people's homes in Belfast.
§ Mr. AlisonTwo 72-bed geriatric units at the Ulster hospital will be completed this year. It is also intended to adapt and upgrade the Colinview unit at the Belvoir Park hospital in order to provide 28–30 beds specifically for psycho-geriatric care, this will take about nine months to complete. A purpose-built 36-bed geriatric unit is planned at the Throne hospital and consideration is also being given to the adaptation of existing facilities.
Three residential homes for old people, providing a total of 120 additional places, are at present under construction. One at Cullingtree road should be completed next mouth and the other two, at Finaghy Road North and Pine Lodge, in the spring of 1981. In addition, funds have been allocated for two further homes, which together will provide 75 more places. Out of these 195 new places, 60 will be reserved for the elderly mentally confused.