HC Deb 26 February 1963 vol 672 cc148-9W
Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Section 4 and Section 5 beds were designated at the latest date for which figures are avail- able; what proportions of total hospital beds they represented; and what was the average percentage occupancy by paying patients.

Mr. Noble

The latest available information is for the financial year 1960–61 and is as follows:

—— Section 4 Section 5
Number of designated beds 2,292 807
Designated beds as percentage of total hospital beds 3.5 1.2
Average percentage occupancy by paying patients 51.5 47.7

NOTE: Sections 4 and 5 beds were occupied at times by ordinary patients without payment: the total occupancy rates were 82.4 per cent and 68.4 per cent for section 4 and section 5 beds respectively.