§ 1. Mr. Goodhewasked the Minister of Health what requests he has received for an increase in the allocation of private beds at St. Albans Hospital; and what reply he has given.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Kenneth Robinson)None, Sir, in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. GoodhewIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that out of 400 beds in St. Albans Hospital, there are only four private beds? Is he aware that, as a result of this, one of the surgeons in the area recently had to wait for four weeks to obtain the admittance to a bed of a woman patient suffering from cancer of the breast and that, despite requests from the Group Secretary, his Ministry refused to designate a bed for this case? Will he, therefore, look at the whole question of the number of private beds?
§ Mr. RobinsonThere is also a waiting list for National Health Service patients at this hospital and I am told that the occupancy rate of paying patients was only 67 per cent. in 1965. I have not yet arrived at a final decision for the number of pay beds for the region as a whole but I have told the board that I shall be prepared to agree with its recommendation for St. Albans Hospital, which is that there should be no change in the present position.