HC Deb 24 June 2003 vol 407 c717W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 9 June 2003,Official Report, column 700W, on residential care, if he will make a statement on the number of (a) nursing home and (b) residential care places for the elderly in Northern Ireland. [121009]

Angela Smith

My right hon. Friend's written answer of 9 June 2003,Official Report, column 700W, represents the best currently available information on the numbers of places for the elderly in residential care and nursing homes in Northern Ireland. It is not possible to disaggregate the number of nursing home places for the elderly, as the Department does not routinely collect this information.

The reduction in the number of available places for the elderly in residential care over the five year period 1997 to 2002 from 4,965 to 4,596 to some extent may be attributed to a change by home owners to dual registered places in care homes, and to the increase in the provision of both domiciliary care services by the Health and Personal Social Services and in Housing Association sheltered housing for the elderly.