§ 52. Mr. Brandon-BravoTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met the chairmen of BUPA, PPP and other private health insurance companies; and what matters were discussed.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe private sector makes a significant contribution to health care and my colleagues and I take care to keep in touch with its representatives. The sector 157W now provides some 200 hospitals (about 10,000 beds), over 2,000 nursing homes (about 52,000 beds) and health insurance for nearly 5.5 million people. We welcome this growing response to public demand and the increasing cost-effective co-operation that is developing between the public and private sectors to the benefit of all.