§ Dr. Summerskillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of National Health Service hospital beds in England and Wales and the estimated total number of private hospital beds, at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. AlisonIn 1970 the average daily number of available National Health Service beds was 449,736. On 31st December, 1970, there were 4,421 pay beds in National Health Service Hospitals. The number of beds in private hospitals is not separately known but there were on the same date 29,234 beds in registered nursing homes, which include private hospitals.