§ Mr. Deanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of revenue from charges to private patients in National Health Service hospitals in the first year of the new charging arrangements which came into operation on 1st April, 199; and how this estimate compares with revenue from charges in previous years.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe information for England and Wales is as follows:—
1969–70 (Estimated) … £8,200,000 1968–69 (Estimated) … £7,185,000 1967–68 … £6,675,000
§ Mr. Deanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent charges for private patients in National Health Service hospitals are being increased under the new charges which come into operation on 1st April.
§ Mr. CrossmanThere are more than 650 hospitals with paybeds. It would involve a disproportionate amount of time to make the comparison in relation to each individual hospital. The new 21W charges will result in an estimated increase in revenue of £1 million in 1969–70 over the previous year.
§ Mr. Deanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the new charges for private patients in National Health Service hospitals relates to capital costs.
§ Mr. CrossmanNo precise statistics are available. On a very rough calculation, the average figure may be about 2 per cent.