HC Deb 16 December 2003 vol 415 c847W
Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) residential places were available for the elderly and (b) beds were blocked by elderly patients on the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by parliamentary constituencies. [144262]

Angela Smith

Information is not available according to Parliamentary constituency on the number of residential places available for the elderly or the number of delayed discharges in respect of elderly patients. This information is collected centrally according to Health and Social Services Trust, and is shown in the table in respect of the position at 31 March 2003, the latest date for which both sets of data are available.

Number of Places in Residential Homes for the Elderly and elderly delayed discharges, 31 March 2003:
Health and Social Services Trust Places in Residential Homes for Elderly Elderly Delayed Discharges
Down Lisburn 541 19
North and West Belfast 316 45
South and East Belfast 846 43
Ulster 518 28
Causeway 403 42
Homefirst 917 86
Armagh and Dungannon 172 27
Craigavon and Banbridge 173 8
Newry and Mourne 229 16
Foyle 280 10
Sperrin Lakeland 311 5
Northern Ireland Total 4,706 329

Notes:

Places in residential homes for the elderly refer to the total number of available places in such homes, regardless of whether they were occupied or not. The information refers toresidential places in residential or dual registered homes only and excludes nursing places in nursing homes and dual registered homes. Delayed discharges refer to patients occupying acute hospital beds although they were medically fit for discharge. This information is shown according to patients' community Trust of residence, for those aged 65 and over.