§ Dr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure for the proportion of total geriatric beds that are in general hospitals; and what target level the Government are working towards.
§ Mr. John PattenInformation is not available centrally in the exact form requested. In 1981, 36.1 per cent. of available beds in departments of geriatric medicine in the National Health Service in England were in hospitals classified as acute, mainly acute and partly acute.
National target levels are not relevant to present day geriatric services. The planning of bed numbers is a matter for decision by individual health authorities, taking account of a variety of local factors, including the characteristics of, and developments in their own hospital services and levels of provisions in related services.
§ Dr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest estimates for (a) the total current costs of departments of geriatric medicine and (b) the total capital costs spent on developing and improving the geriatric services.
§ Mr. John PattenExpenditure on individual specialties is not identified separately on the costing returns. The Department makes estimates of the expenditure on the main client groups; in 1981–82, the latest year for which this information is available, the current expenditure on geriatric in-patients is estimated to have amounted to some £663 million. The capital costs of services provided by regional health authorities mainly for the elderly and the younger disabled are planned to be £42 million in 1983–84.