Written question asked by Winston Churchill (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 November 1996. It was answered by Simon Burns (Conservative) on Monday, 18 November 1996 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: What is the average cost per annum to public funds of the healthcare costs of (a) the average retirement pensioner and (b) a retirement pensioner in the last two years of their lives; and what proportion (c) constitutes an individual's life-time healthcare costs. - Includes figure for hospital and community health services expenditure for people aged 65 and over and that statistics on the cost to public funds of health care in the last two years of a retired person's life are not available.

Answer: Mr. Churchill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost per annum to public funds of the health care costs of (a) the average retirement pensioner and (b) a retirement pensioner in the last two years of their life; and what proportion (c) constitutes of an individual's life-time health care costs. [4381] Mr. Burns: Figures showing the annual cost of the health care of retirement pensioners are not collected. However, hospital and community health services expenditure for people aged 65 and over was estimated at £1,195 per person in 1994-95. Statistics on the cost to public funds of health care in the last two years of a retired person's life are not available.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4381; 285 c409W
Session: 1996-97
Subjects: Health services Expenditure Pensioners Per capita costs Community health services
Contains statistics: Yes