HC Deb 15 March 1971 vol 813 cc221-2W
Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct hospital boards to make beds set aside for private patients available for National Health Service patients when they are unused and not in demand.

Sir K. Joseph

The attention of all hospital authorities was drawn in 1969 to Section 1(6) of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, which provides that the authorisation of accommodation by the Secretary of State for use by private patients shall not prevent it being used for other patients needing it more urgently on medical grounds and for whom no other suitable accommodation is available.