§ 21. Mr. Iremongerasked the Minister of Health why the National Temperance Hospital has been deprived of pay beds for private patients; how many patients have been accommodated in these beds over the past year; and what alternative arrangements are being made for surgical consultants' cases in this hospital in future.
§ 51. Mr. Worsleyasked the Minister of Health why he has closed down all the private beds in the National Temperance Hospital; and how much notice was given of the closure.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe National Temperance Hospital will shortly be transferred to the board of governors of University College Hospital where there is a private patients wing of 111 beds, to which consultants at the National Temperance Hospital may admit their private patients.
In 1967, 169 patients were treated in the six pay beds at the National Temperance Hospital.
My approval of the regional hospital board's proposal to de-designate these beds was conveyed to the board on 18th October. From 2nd January the hospital accepted no further private bookings but
§ Following are the figures:
§ patients who had already booked continued to be admitted.
§ Mr. IremongerCan the Minister say whether the new beds which are available will be equal in number to the beds which have been taken away, or will surgeons have to sacrifice the interests of their patients to the new dispensation?
§ Mr. RobinsonIt may be that the hon. Gentleman had difficulty in hearing my original Answer. There are 111 beds in the University College private wing as against the six which have been closed at the National Temperance.
§ Mr. WorsleyNevertheless, will the Minister not agree that the closure is contrary to the advice of the medical staff of the hospital? Will he not reconsider it?
§ Mr. RobinsonI am assured that, when formulating the proposal that these beds should be redesignated, account was taken of the views of the hospital management committee, and that the medical committees and the group medical advisory committee were consulted.