§ 36. Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that great hardship is being caused by the large increases in the charges for private beds particularly in maternity hospitals; and whether he will take steps to see that these charges are reduced.
§ Mr. BevanI am aware of these increases, which are due to increased hospital costs generally. I have in any case no power to vary them under the Act.
§ Mr. WatkinsonIs the Minister aware that in the Woking Maternity Hospital the charges for private beds from 1st April will be increased from £12 to £19 5s. a week, and that patients who have booked many months ago at the old rate will be forced to pay the new rate of £19 5s. a week or lose their chances of getting a bed?
§ Mr. BevanThese are additional payments which are made under the Statute, and I have no authority to vary the payments. As I explained on Tuesday, hospital costs are up both inside and outside the hospital National Health Scheme.
Mr. MitehisonIs not my right hon. Friend being constantly pressed from the benches opposite to exercise a highly oppressive form of centralised bureaucracy?
§ Mr. WatkinsonIn that case, in the light of the Labour Party's manifesto, is this developing the National Health Service wisely for the general good?
§ Mr. Arbuthnotasked the Minister of Health by how much the charges for a private bed in the Deal, Buckland, Dover and Folkestone hospitals have been increased since the vesting day under the National Health Service Act; and whether the patients concerned receive correspondingly improved conditions.
§ Mr. BevanThe charges have risen from between six and seven guineas to between 10 and 12 guineas. The increase reflects certain improvements, but is mainly due to increased hospital costs.