§ 19. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Health how many vacant beds there are region by region in sanatoria and chest hospitals; and to what extent these are due to lack of staff.
§ Mr. VosperThe following is the answer:
TUBERCULOSIS BEDS VACANT, 1955 (ENGLAND AND WALES) Regional Hospital Board Area Average number of beds staffed and available but not occupied Beds vacant for lack of staff at 31st December, 1955 Newcastle 308 44 Leeds 244 267 Sheffield 310 112 East Anglia 185 95 North West Metropolitan 688 60 North East Metropolitan 353 88 South East Metropolitan 275 160 South West Metropolitan 657 124 Oxford 59 14 Southwestern 308 41 Wales 320 139 Birmingham 222 461 Manchester 149 66 Liverpool 409 — 4,487 1,671
§ 20. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Health to what extent chest hospitals, region by region, are now able to deal with chest cases other than those of pulmonary tuberculosis.
§ Mr. VosperPrecise figures are not available, but my information is that in all regions suitable accommodation no longer needed for pulmonary tuberculosis is being brought into use for other chest conditions.