§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many respite beds there are in each(a) council and (b) health board area; and how many of these beds are (i) solely for the use of patients with particular conditions and (ii) restricted to use by individuals within a certain age range. [187763]
§ Angela SmithInformation on the number of beds which may be used to provide respite care is not collected centrally. Health and social services boards do not have a specified number of residential or nursing home beds dedicated solely to respite care, as beds may be used to accommodate either permanent residents or persons requiring respite according to demand.