Measuring the Demand for Geriatric Beds

There is a shortage of geriatric beds in many parts of the country. This shortage is usually expressed by calculating the number of geriatric beds per thousand of population in a given area and comparing it with a recommended figure such as two beds per thousand.l The disadvantages of this method are the differing age-structure of the population in different areas and the influence on the demand for geriatric beds of the availability of alternative provision for sick old people, such as general medical and psychiatric beds, residential homes and domiciliary services, day hospital places, etc. The object of this article is to show how the statistics of the work of an existing geriatric unit can be used to express the demand for geriatric beds in an area and the adequacy of the service in meeting that demand. The figures can be supplied by any geriatric unit with the aid of a simple register; no special staff or equipment is required. The figures for the work of Glasgow Royal Infirmary Geriatric Service for the year 1965 are presented here. It is hoped that other units will publish their figures in a similar form so that comparisons can be made

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