HC Deb 22 January 1953 vol 510 cc385-6
19. Mr. Oliver

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to end the unsatisfactory position now prevailing whereby patients, on account of the shortage of beds, must wait a year or more, particularly in Derby, before being admitted to hospital unless they are prepared to pay a private fee for their operations, in which case they are admitted without delay; and whether, in these circumstances, he will endeavour to provide that in all cases medical need and not private fees shall be the criterion for admission to State hospitals.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I recognise that in some parts of the country, including Derby, patients whose admission to hospital is not urgent have to wait a long time. But urgent cases are usually admitted at once, and if the hon. and learned Member will let me have particulars of any cases known to him where admission was medically urgent and was delayed I shall be glad to look into them.

Mr. Oliver

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that I have already done that in two cases, as well as when his predecessor was in office? I do not find any change in the procedure. If there is a delay for those who cannot pay, surely we ought to do something to see that ability to pay is not the criterion for getting hospital treatment.

Mr. Macleod

I would not accept that pay is the criterion. Any so-called pay bed can be available at once if needed on medical grounds. As a result of the recommendations that the hon. and learned Member has made, I am looking into the position in this area.

Mr. Oliver

But pay is the criterion. The whole grievance is that while patients cannot get into the hospital as ordinary patients, they can get in at once if they pay. If the right hon. Gentleman is in any doubt about it, I can send him plenty of evidence to justify my statement.

Mr. Macleod

I think that that goes a great deal further. The hon. and learned Member is asking for the abolition of pay beds. In the first place, I do not agree with him, and in the second place it was the party opposite who introduced them.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Can the Minister give us an assurance that he is not intending to institute general charges for hospital beds throughout the country?

Mr. Hastings

Would the right hon. Gentleman make it clear to all hospitals that if pay beds are not in use by people who are paying they can and should be used by ordinary patients?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, I entirely, agree. They certainly should be used by those patients.

Dr. Stross

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the term "medically urgent" can be differently interpreted by different people, and that many of these cases relate to children suffering from enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and they have to wait a long time unless a fee is paid? They are very medically urgent in the minds of their parents.