§ 35. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Health how many beds are reserved for paying patients in hospitals; and what proportion this represents of the total number of beds.
§ Mr. MarquandAbout 6,875 pay beds, or 1½ per cent. of the total number of staffed beds, are set aside at present under Section 5 of the National Health Service Act, 1946.
§ Mr. HyndWill my right hon. Friend have another look at this matter, in view of the many complaints of people urgently requiring treatment who are debarred from admission to hospital because of the number of paying patients?
§ Mr. MarquandI think that my hon. Friend is mistaken. Pay beds are set aside but are not reserved. If they are required urgently on medical grounds for patients for whom other accommodation is not available, no charge is made.