§ 23. Mr. ColemanTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage of bed occupancy in Welsh hospitals in January 1979; and what was the position in January.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Ian Grist)The information is not availabl:! for the dates requested, as bed use data are collected quarterly. The figures for the quarters ended 31 March 1979 and 31 March 1987 — the latest date for which information is available—were 78 and 79 per cent. respectively.
§ Mr. ColemanDoes the Minister agree with the quotation:
The health of the people is the highest law"?If the hon. Gentleman does agree, does he also agree that the modernisation and building of hospitals would assist with bed occupancy? Will he instruct those who plan hospital building services that they should take account of the environmental factors just as much as of economic and accountancy matters?
§ Mr. GristThe matter that those people should take into account first and foremost is the provision of health care for patients.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettWill my hon. Friend take into account the enormous disparities between different districts in Wales as to the proportion of money that is spent by those authorities and the return that they get on that money, and make sure that the best authorities' practice is copied by those with the worst practice?
§ Mr. GristIt is our intention that authorities that are less efficient should follow the most efficient. My hon. Friend will be aware that capital and revenue finances are being equated throughout the Principality, to the advantage of his own health authority.