§ 28. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Health how many beds in infirmaries and hospitals are being held vacant for military patients; and whether he will consider releasing these as quickly as possible in view of the shortage of beds available in hospitals for civilians.
§ Mr. BevanAs the reply is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The number of beds reserved in civilian hospitals and institutions in England and Wales for the purposes of the Emergency Hospital Scheme is approximately 53,000. No part of this total reservation is earmarked exclusively for military patients, but the latest available figures show that of these beds 15,800 are occupied by Service patients and 10,700 by civilian patients who are the responsibility of the Emergency Hospital Scheme, leaving approximately 26,500 vacant emergency scheme beds, the majority of which are unstaffed.
§ With regard to the second part of the Question, the Emergency Hospital Scheme bed reservation figures are under constant review, and if hospital authorities find it necessary to encroach upon the 560 emergency reservation they are at liberty to do so in agreement with the responsible medical officers of my Department. It is hoped to release a substantial number of beds after 1st June, when it is expected that the Army's needs for civilian hospital services will be limited to exceptional cases which cannot be provided for in military hospitals.