HL Deb 04 December 1975 vol 366 cc747-8
Lord AYLESTONE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of revenue which would be received if patients resident in National Health Service hospitals for periods of 7 days or more, and between the ages of 18 and 65 years made a contribution of £5 per week towards their hospital treatment and maintenance.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, the estimated gross revenue would be about £40 million in England. The net yield, allowing for overlap with existing provisions, necessary exemptions and administrative costs would be very much less.

Lord AYLESTONE

My Lords, in thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that even £40 million would be a considerable help to the National Health Service these days and that, while I appreciate that it would make every bed into a pay bed, the cost would perhaps fall less hardly on the patient than a direct increase in prescription charges or charges for dentures or spectacles? Is it a matter which the Royal Commission could look at?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, in reply to the first part of my noble friend's supplementary question, we should have to take into account the overlap between the proposed contribution and existing provisions for abatement of National Insurance and other Social Security benefits when people are admitted to hospital. That would considerably reduce the yield because, at the moment, no reduction is made during the first eight weeks but, thereafter, people in receipt of National Insurance and other Social Security benefits lose £2.65 a week if they have one dependant and £5.30 if they have no dependant. With regard to the second part of my noble friend's question, the terms of reference of the Royal Commission would not preclude examination of an in-patient charge.

Lord TRANMIRE

My Lords, would the noble Lord consider the anomaly under which patients of all ages are admitted to hospital free, whereas the old and frail must, on admission to a hostel, pay for accommodation according to their means?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, that is a matter I shall have to look into because I am not aware that that is the case.

Baroness SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me whether the real reason for not charging for maintenance is because the Government and the medical profession believe that it might deter people who are suffering from a serious complaint from obtaining treatment in hospital?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, that is part of the reason. The other part is the fact that we regard the National Health Service as a free service, taking into account the fact that people pay by virtue of their contributions every week.