§ Baroness Howe of Idlicoteasked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of hospital bed occupancy represents the ideal balance that would enable hospitals to manage both routine surgery and emergency situations most effectively; what is the current such percentage target for National Health Service hospitals; and to what extent this target is currently being achieved. [HL5908]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThere is no national target set on bed occupancy. As part of routine capacity planning each National Health Service trust 81WA needs to establish the levels of occupancy required for different specialties and types of care depending on their own particular circumstances. Appropriate levels of occupancy will depend on a number of factors, including specialty, the balance between emergency and planned admissions and the size of the hospital.