§ 31. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, when the proposed private hospital is constructed at Lisson Grove, London, he will arrange to acquire it so that its facilities may be used according to need and not according to ability to pay.
§ Mr. CrossmanAdditional hospital provision of the kind reported in the Press is not required for National Health Service purposes in this locality.
§ Mr. JenkinsIf this proposed hospital goes ahead with a charge of 15 guineas a day, plus treatment, and is projected to produce a profit of fi million a year, will it not divert to private purposes treatment facilities and skilled labour which ought to be employed in the National Health Service?
§ Mr. CrossmanI agree with my hon. Friend that admission to hospital should depend on need and not on ability to pay, but we have that private sector in this country, and it is legal.