§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has received on supplying hospitals with sheets made of non-woven synthetic fibres to replace conventional bed linen; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonMy Department is in touch with manufacturers. Sheets of this type are in limited specialised use in hospitals but on grounds of cost and acceptability are not yet considered appropriate for general use. These new materials already have other hospital uses.
§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals have been built, or major extensions completed, on the basis of the recommendation contained in the Hospital Plan 1963, Cmnd. 1604, that district general 71W hospitals should be of 600 to 800 beds serving a population of 100,000 to 150,000.
§ Mr. AlisonThis information is not readily available.
§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he gave general guidance to hospital authorities that hospitals should serve populations of 150,000 to 200,000 or more.
§ Mr. AlisonPresent practice has evolved from experience following the Hospital Plan (Cmnd. 1604) of 1962. No general guidance of the kind referred to by the hon. Member has been given.