§ Mr. Grey46, 47 and 48. asked the Minister of Health (1) what steps he intends to take to alleviate the position regarding the many people waiting for hospital beds in the northern region;
(2) if he is aware of the large number of people waiting for hospital beds under the National Health Service in the northern region; and whether he will reduce the number of private beds, thus helping to alleviate this position;
(3) the total number of hospital beds in the northern region; and what proportion are private beds.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonMy right hon. and learned Friend is aware that in this region, as in others, there are waiting lists and he relies on the hospital boards to continue to improve the services and to reduce waiting periods. Some £8.5 million has already been spent on capital development in this region and the number of consultants employed by the Regional Hospital Board has increased nearly threefold since the start of the72W National Health Service. Of the 27,000 beds available in the region on 31st December, 1957, only about 1 per cent. were private beds and to reduce the number of private beds would make virtually no difference to waiting lists.