HC Deb 12 November 1997 vol 300 c601W
Mr. Burnett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the spending on community nurses in each health authority in(a) Cornwall and (b) Devon in each year since 1979 for which figures are available; [15659]

(2) if he will list the average spending on community nurses for English health authorities in each year since 1979 for which figures are available. [15660]

(3) if he will list the spending on community nurses in England (a) in cash terms and (b) at 1979 prices for each year since 1979 for which figures are available. [15661]

Mr. Milburn

Information on spending on community health nursing can not be separated centrally from expenditure on all nursing staff. The table shows expenditure on community nursing services of which community nursing staff will form the major part. The information is not available for individual health authorities.

Community nursing services
£ million
Year Cash figures 1979 prices
1979–80 240.0 240.0
1980–81 328.9 278.0
1981–82 371.9 286.5
1982–83 407.9 293.5
1983–84 432.4 297.2
1984–85 474.2 310.3

Patients aged 75 and over ready for discharge but still occupying a hospital bed
Q4 1994–95 Q2 1995–96 Q4 1995–96 Q1 1996–97 Q3 1996–97 Q4 1996–97 Q1 1997–98
South and West Devon 0 48 111 116 22 37 57
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 92 96 84 51 65 73 43
North and East Devon 140 90 129 165 165 165 66
Average per health authority in England 65 71 77 79 65 71 64