§ 13. Sir Reginald Eyreasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about health authorities' plans for developing and improving services to patients in the coming year.
§ Mrs. CurrieRegional health authorities' programmes for 1986–87, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State approved last March, set out plans for a significant expansion and improvement of patient services. As my hon. Friend knows, in 1985 health authorities treated 6,350,000 in-patient cases — an increase of nearly a million since 1978, and 960,000 day cases—an increase of 400,000. They are planning a further increase of 180,000 in-patient and day cases in 1986–87. The number of outpatient attendances in 1985 stood at 37,400,000, an increase of no less than 3,300,000 since 1978, and health authorities are planning a further increase of 370,000 in 1986–87.