Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many additional hospital beds he estimates will become available in each of the Scottish hospital board regions over the next six months.
§ Mr. RossIt is estimated that between 1st December 1967 and 31st May, 1968 the following beds will become available in new or substantially converted accommodation:
Northern Regional Hospital Board Nil North-Eastern Regional Hospital Board 120 Eastern Regional Hospital Board 70 South-Eastern Regional Hospital Board 650 Western Regional Hospital Board 610 1,450
Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many hospital beds are available in hospitals in each of the regions managed by regional hospital boards in Scotland; and what numbers were occupied at the most recent date for which figures are available;
(2) how many beds were vacant in the hospitals run by each of the regional hospital boards in Scotland at the most recent rate for which figures are available.
§ Mr. RossThe figures are as follows:
Regional Hospital Board Available Staffed Beds as at 31st March, 1967 Average number of occupied beds during the six month period to 31st March, 1967 (1) (2) (3) Northern 2,572 2,289 North-Eastern 6,078 5,149 Eastern 6,649 5,541 South-Eastern 12,923 11,135 Western 34,543 29,402 62,765 53,516 The number of beds vacant at any time is not known but the difference between columns (2) and (3) gives an approximate indication of the average percentage occupancy. It will be appreciated that an occupancy of, or approaching, 100 per cent. is not achievable except in a long stay hospital.
Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is 310W aware that many persons requiring hospital treatment in Scotland are unable to obtain admission because of the shortage of hospital beds; and what plans he has to improve the situation in the near future.
§ Mr. RossI am aware that in some areas and in some specialties there are not enough beds. Schemes now under construction will provide about 3,300 beds and schemes being planned to start in the period to 1971 should provide over 5,000 more.