HC Deb 05 November 1996 vol 284 cc503-4W
Sir George Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 30 October,Official Report, column 135, what information he has to indicate the number of acute beds in NHS hospitals blocked by patients awaiting discharge into retirement or nursing homes in different parts of the country. [2336]

Mr. Horam

Since April 1996, the national health service executive has started to collect information twice yearly from health authorities about patients aged 75 and over whose discharge from hospital has been delayed.

Sir John Gorst

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's definition of acute care. [2146]

Mr. Horam

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 4 November.