HC Deb 04 February 1957 vol 564 cc22-3
39. Captain Pilkington

asked the Minister of Health to what extent increases in hospital accommodation have now caught up with the number of patients awaiting admission.

Mr. Vosper

The number of patients awaiting admission in England and Wales on 31st December, 1955, the latest date for which I have figures, was 454,878. This is a reduction of some 20,000 since the end of 1954 and of 71,000 since the end of 1953.

Captain Pilkington

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he is to be congratulated from both sides of the House upon the improvement made? How much longer does he think it will be before there will be sufficient vacancies for the people who are still waiting?

Mr. Vosper

The congratulations should go to my predecessors. As my hon. Friend knows, there is in hand a considerable hospital building programme which will be increased in the coming year.

Mrs. L. Jeger

Does the Minister know whether any considerable proportion of those waiting for beds suffer from tuberculosis?

Mr. Vosper

I think that the number suffering from tuberculosis is very small, and is almost negligible.