§ 19. Mr. KnoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated in national health service hospitals in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures for 1978.
§ Mr. DorrellProvisional figures for 1989–90 show almost 7.5 million in-patient cases were treated as compared with some 6 million in 1978—a rise of 23 per cent. Day cases rose even more sharply by 103 per cent. from 562,000 to over 1 million. Over the same period there has been a 10 per cent. rise in new out-patient attendances and a 7 per cent. rise in total out-patient attendances.