§ Mr. David Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the number 335W of hospices in the United Kingdom (a) at the present time, (b) in 1975 and (c) in 1970; and how many are currently receiving public money.
§ Sir George YoungThe latest information available centrally shows that there are 62 hospices or units providing specialist terminal care for in-patients in the United Kingdom. Of these, 21 are funded as National Health Service units, others have beds contracted by their local health authority and a further group receive grants from their health authority. The exact numbers in each category are not known, nor is information held centrally as to the numbers of hospices in the years 1970 and 1975. The majority of hospices have been established during the last decade.