§ 23. Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Health what increase there has been in the number of staffed beds for the acute sick in general hospitals in England and Wales since the date of the coming into operation of the National Health Service Act.
§ Mr. BevanFigures for beds for the acute sick as such are not readily available, but between 30th June and 31st December, 1948, the increase in the number of staffed beds in general hospitals in England and Wales was 15,510.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottDoes the Minister agree with the Chancellor of the Exchequer who yesterday stated that there were 60,000 beds unstaffed in the Kingdom, when the last figure given to this House by the right hon. Gentleman was 53,000?
§ Mr. BevanIt may be, of course, that we are not speaking of exactly the same institutions. In some instances, as the hon. and gallant Member knows, some institutions are left outside the statistics. However, I think the House will agree that an increase of 15,500 staffed beds in six months is a very remarkable rate of increase.