§ Mr. HindTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated in National Health Service hospitals as in-patient, out-patient and day patient in the north-west in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures for 1978.
§ Mr. FreemanThe available information is given in the table.
National Health Service Hospitals activity, North Western Regional Health Authority, 1978, 1986 and financial year 1987–88 1978 1987–88 Percentage change between 1978–1987–88 In-patient cases treated 511,674 644,540 26.0 Day case treated 68,080 120,400 76.9 New out patients 707,676 780,283 10.3 Total out-patient attendances 3,149,423 3,605,422 14.5 Ward attenders1 n/a 42,548 — 1 This new category of patient was introduced in 1987–88. Some patients previously classified as out-patients or day cases may now be classified as ward attenders.