HC Deb 25 November 1988 vol 142 cc57-8W
Mr. John Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list by regional health authority(a) the number of 65 to 70 year olds receiving National Health Service care and (b) the number of 65 to 70 year olds receiving private sector care;

(2) if he will list by regional health authority (a) the number of 70 to 75 year olds receiving National Health Service care and (b) the number of 70 to 75 year olds receiving private sector care;

(3) if he will list by regional health authority (a) the number of 75 to 80 year olds receiving National Health Service care and (b) the number of 75 to 80 year olds receiving private sector care;

(4) if he will list by regional health authority (a) the number of 80 to 85 year olds receiving National Health Service care and (b) the number of 80 to 85 year olds receiving private sector care;

(5) if he will list by regional health authority (a) the number of people over 85 years old receiving National Health Service care and (b) the number of people over 85 years old receiving private sector care.

Mrs. Currie

There are many aspects of care for elderly people provided by the NHS. We do not hold information about the use made of all NHS services, on the basis of age groups. Similarly we do not hold information by age group on the use made of all kinds of private sector care.

Mr. John Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the balance of care for the elderly, between the private and public sectors;

(2) whether his Department is monitoring the growth of the private sector in the field of care of the elderly; and what steps are being taken to measure whether the private sector can meet future consumer demands.

Mrs. Currie

We collect annual statistics on provision in private nursing homes and residential care homes registered under the Registered Homes Act 1984. We do not collect information centrally about private domiciliary care. We see the future of both health and social services care as one in which the individual and his or her family should have a choice. In the light of Sir Roy Griffiths' report we are considering how the provision of care should be organised across all sectors to best address future consumer demands.