§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the closing of the Woolavington Wing operating theatres at the Middlesex Hospital and the effect that this will have on National Health Service patients;
(2) if he is aware that, because of the closure of the Woolavington Wing operating theatres at the Middlesex Hospital, consultants are now being allowed to put their private patients on their ordinary list; and what action he proposes to take about this;
(3) if he is aware that, because of the closure of the Woolavington Wing operating theatres at the Middlesex Hospital, operations on private patients over a 12-week period are to be carried out in National Health Service theatres and National Health Service operating lists cancelled to accommodate them; and if he will take action to prevent this;
(4) how many National Health Service patients have had their operations deferred because of the decision taken at the Middlesex Hospital to allow private patients to have their operations in National Health Service theatres, following the closure of the Woolavington Wing operating theatres;
(5) what financial arrangements have been made concerning the use of National Health Service operating theatres by private patients, following the closure of the Woolavington Wing operating theatres.
§ Sir K. JosephI find that there are eight main National Health Service operating theatres at the Middlesex Hospital of which two, in the Woolavington Wing, are used mainly but not exclusively for private patients. These two theatres are closed for modernisation from 17th January for 12 weeks. The work of the surgeons is being re-arranged to fit into the six remaining theatres by using the theatres more frequently, by allowing surgeons to fit private patients into their normal operating sessions, by cancelling 12 private and nine National Health Service sessions and by closing 20 per cent. of the private beds. I cannot say how many National Health Service patients 181W have had or will have their operations deferred as a result. However, from 17th January to 5th February there were 7 per cent. fewer operations on National Health Service patients compared with 1971, but 28 per cent. fewer on private patients. I see no reason to intervene in these arrangements.
These changes do not affect the hospital charges payable by private patients, as these are based on average in-patient costs, which include theatre costs.