HC Deb 18 February 1985 vol 73 cc373-4W
Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average cost per week of keeping an old person in geriatric care in hospitals in each of the health and social services board areas; and how this compares with each of the last eight years.

Mr. Chris Patten

The average cost per week of keeping an old person in hospitals which are wholly providing geriatric care for each of the last eight years is as follows.

Year ended 31 March Board
Northern Southern Western Eastern
1977 110 74 94 118
1978 120 83 104 135
1979 131 90 114 147
1980 158 113 135 179
1981 215 137 169 242
1982 235 158 211 250
1983 248 177 211 255
1984 271 188 237 269

Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average duration of stay of old people in geriatric wards in hospitals in each of the health and social services board areas.

Mr. Chris Patten

The information is as follows:

Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on the home help service by each of the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Mr. Chris Patten

Information is not available covering all the costs of the home help service. The following figures represent expediture on home help salaries and incidental expenses and do not include items such as the salaries of professional and clerical staff involved in providing the service.

Average duration of stay for year ended December 1983 (days)*
Health and Social Services Board Numbers
Eastern 170
Northern 204
Southern 177
Western 107
* A small number of the patients involved may have been under the age of 65.

Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in each of the health and social services board areas are occupying geriatric beds in hospitals; and how this compares with each of the last eight years.

Mr. Chris Patten

The available information is as follows:

Average daily number of persons occupying geriatric beds
Year Eastern Northern Southern Western
1976 948 450 407 351
1977 969 472 405 378
1978 1,027 476 401 390
1979 1,064 470 394 390
1980 1,070 467 398 395
1981 1,058 470 395 375
1982 * 473 373 395
1983 1,116 515 409 394
Note:
* Figures not available due to industrial action.