§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his Department's guidelines for geriatric in-patient beds per 1,000 of the population aged over 65 years; and how many regions now meet these guidelines.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:The Department's guidelines for geriatric in-patient beds per 1,000 of the population 441W aged over 65 were set in 1971. They are no longer appropriate to present-day geriatric services, where average stays are shorter and the total bed requirement is affected by the relative proportions of acute, rehabilitation and long-stay beds.