§ 9. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that pay beds in hospitals are being fully used; and why, at some hospitals, their use is much less than in the service as a whole.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodStatistics for last year are not yet available, but I have impressed on hospital authorities the importance of ensuring that the total occupancy of these beds whether by paying or by non-paying patients is no lower than that of other beds. Reasons for any unusually low occupancy would, of course, depend on the circumstances of the particular case.
§ Dr. StrossIs it not fair to say that, in part at least, it is our view that the high cost is a factor, for patients have to pay for the whole of the services associated with the bed plus all fees incurred? For these reasons, is it not time that whole matter was reviewed? Will the Minister consider abolishing pay beds as such and turning them into normal beds and amenity beds, which would be very much better?
§ Mr. MacleodI certainly shall not abolish pay beds which, I believe, have a valuable part, just as has private practice, in the development of our service. We altered, in part at least, the regulations by which calculations for a pay bed are made some time ago, after a debate in this House, and I am watching that point. I sent a letter on this matter last summer to all hospital authorities and I think I want to wait a little longer to see how we go as a result of the new regulations.