§ Mr. John HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by regional health authority(a) the financial resources allocated to the National Health Service for the care of the elderly and (b) the number of units and staff specifically allocated within the National Health Service for the care of elderly people.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 25 November 1988]: In the main the Department does not identify funds for specific purposes such as provision of care of the elderly within its overall allocations to regional health authorities. The allocation of resources to district health authorities is a matter for regions and districts to determine, within a national framework of health care priorities, and in the light of local needs and circumstances.
Information on the number of units and staff allocated to care of the elderly is not available in the form requested. The number of NHS hospitals having beds for elderly in 1987–88 and the number of medical and nursing staff allocated to the geriatric area of work on 30 September 1987 are shown in the table.
Number1 of NHS staff in post—England 30 September 1986 Male Female Total directly employed staff (excluding agency nursing and midwifery staff and locum medical and dental staff). 211,600 735,200 Nursing staff (including agency staff)2 42,800 404,000 Midwifery staff (including agency staff)3 4— 26,500 1 Figures are independently rounded to the nearest one hundred. 2 Includes qualified nurses, learners and unqualified nursing staff. 3 Includes qualified midwives and student midwives. 4 Less than 50. Source: Department of Health Annual Censuses of NHS Medical and Non-Medical Manpower.