HC Deb 16 March 1971 vol 813 cc281-2W
Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds are available at the general hospitals of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board; and how many were available in each of the years from 1950 to 1970, inclusive.

Sir K. Joseph

The number of beds other than geriatric, chronic sick and psychiatric in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Area for the years 1960–69 inclusive was as follows:

1960 16,400
1961 16,304
1962 16,512
1963 16,142
1964 16,067
1965 16,251
1966 16,365
1967 16,703
1968 16,511
1969 16,318

Later returns are not yet complete for all hospitals. Figures for years before 1960 are not readily available.

Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds are now set aside for private patients in the general hospitals of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board; and how many were available in each of the years from 1950 to 1970, inclusive.

Sir K. Joseph

There are at present 337 beds authorised for private patients in hospitals of this Board, the majority in acute, mainly acute and partly acute hospitals. Figures for the previous ten years are given below. Figures for earlier years are not readily available.

1960 513
1961 499
1962 504
1963 511
1964 499
1965 508
1966 498
1967 493
1968 357
1969 313