§ 50. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the total number of geriatric and psychogeriatric beds, respectively, available in England and Wales at the present time; and whether he regards this as adequate to deal with the needs which exist.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe average daily number of geriatric beds available in England and Wales in 1980—the most recent years for which figures are available—was about 59,000. Present national statistics do not distinguish psychogeriatric beds. In recent years, we have given priority to increasing resources for hospital services for elderly people. As regards geriatric care, these are now improvements both in bed and staff numbers and in the standards of facilities. As regards the elderly with psychiatric disorders, we have stressed that priority should be given to providing, in each district, enough suitable accommodation and a consultant psychiatrist with a special interest in the elderly who can help to develop the district's services for these patients.