asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons who in the last twelve months have received hospital or institutional services under the Health Act, and the cost of such services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Health Services.
4.
The most recent period for which the information asked for in the first part of the question is available is the year ended 31st December, 1960. In that year a total of approximately 292,000 persons received in-patient institutional services under the Health Acts. Patients who received treatment in general or acute hospitals but whose treatment was not concluded by the end of the year have not been included.
Figures of cost relate to financial years. The net total cost to Health Authorities and the Exchequer of institutional services qualifying for recoupment under the Health Services Grant in 1960/61 amounted to £8,266,000. This figure is exclusive of deficit payments from the Hospitals Trust Fund made to voluntary hospitals. These totalled almost £1,500,000 for the year.
In addition to the foregoing, approximately 28,000 patients were treated in district mental hospitals during 1960 under the Mental Treatment Acts at a cost of £4,049,000.