§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Health what action he has taken and plans to take, in the case of private patients who have jumped the queue for operations and hospital beds; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonOne of the objects of the review of pay beds was to bring the relationship between provision and demand more closely into line with that of other beds, thus reducing the opportunity134W for paying patients to gain admission more quickly than non-paying patients with similar medical needs. I have no evidence that patients who have had private consultation receive any greater priority in admission to hospital as non-paying patients than is warranted by their medical condition.