§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of private hospitals do not have 24 hour cover from qualified doctors. [133046]
140W
§ Mr. HuttonEstablishments registered as independent hospitals, with the National Care Standards Commission under the Care Standards Act 2000, that have overnight beds for in-patients undergoing medical treatment or surgery are required as a national minimum standard to have a resident medical officer available on immediate call at all times to manage urgent care if a consultant under whom a patient has been admitted is absent or unavailable. Information on the proportion of private hospitals that have such beds is not collected centrally.