§ Ms KellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients admitted to Royal Bolton hospital(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97 had been forced to remain in hospital for longer than their treatment required because suitable residential or day care was not available for up to (i) one week, (ii) two weeks, (iii) one month, (iv) two months and (v) three months or longer; and what estimate he has made of the additional costs to the NHS of these extended periods of care. [4251]
§ Mr. BoatengFor information for 1 June 1997, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 20 June 1997 at columns317–18. Bolton Hospital national health service trust is unable to aggregate these figures for the reasons previously described. The trust has collected precise information on this subject only for the last 18 months. My hon. Friend may wish to approach Mrs. B. Peacock, chairman of the trust, for more details.