HC Deb 05 December 1966 vol 737 c941
50. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Minister of Health why changes in hospital use and bed allocation often ensue when a senior consultant retires.

Mr. K. Robinson

Retirement is often a convenient opportunity to review the arrangement of services in hospitals in the light of the requirements at the time.

Mr. Pavitt

In view of the need for the most economical and effective use of hospital beds, will my right hon. Friend ask regional hospital boards to take a fresh look at the use of respiratory consultants' beds with a view perhaps to changing them, as the pattern of medicine has changed?

Mr. Robinson

It is not only when consultants retire that arrangements of this kind are reviewed, and I hope that hospital authorities keep them constantly under review.