HC Deb 16 July 1968 vol 768 cc1226-7
16. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Minister of Health what cost estimates have been prepared by his Department in connection with an increase in the availability of single rooms, and two- and three-bedded rooms in hospitals under the National Health Service; and what plans he has for increasing the proportion of smaller rooms in hospitals.

Mr. K. Robinson

Existing guidance to hospital boards on new building recommends that 20 per cent. of beds in acute wards should be provided in single rooms. This percentage is raised to 40 in children's wards. Two- and three-bedded rooms are not recommended. I have no plans for increasing these proportions.

Mr. Roberts

Does my right hon. Friend accept that this move forward is welcome, but that now that even the Army is moving towards offering small rooms to other ranks rather than the barrack room it is a matter of urgency that the large ward idea should disappear, and that the other ranks in the hospitals—the National Health Service patients—should be offered this type of private accommodation?

Mr. Robinson

I certainly think that large wards are probably a thing of the past. Multi-bed bays or rooms should, in our view, contain four to eight beds. We regard six as the optimum number. But there is plenty of evidence that by no means all hospital patients want to be in single rooms. I have asked for a survey to be made to ascertain the wishes generally of patients.