HC Deb 22 November 1954 vol 533 cc777-8
41. Mr. Fort

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital beds in England and Wales are available to general practitioners for the treatment of their patients.

Mr. Iain Macleod

At the end of 1953, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of staffed beds allocated to general practitioner maternity and medical units were 2,036 and 6,524, respectively.

Mr. Fort

Can my right hon. Friend say whether that shows any marked increase or decrease over the previous year?

Mr. Macleod

I am afraid I cannot. I looked at previous records with that idea in mind, but they were kept on rather a different basis. The only estimate there is, which is very rough, is that there has been no significant change.