§ 45. Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single bed rooms are currently available for NHS patients in hospitals within the health service; and what proportion this represents of the total numbers of beds available.
§ Dr. OwenThe information is not available centrally. My Department's guidance is that 20 per cent. of adult acute beds in new hospital building should be provided in single rooms.
§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria are used in determining whether a National Health Service patient in a health service hospital should be placed in a single bed room.
§ Dr. OwenThis is primarily a matter for the medical and nursing staff concerned to determine. Among the criteria that would be considered are: — (a) Risk of the patient infecting others; (b) A patient particularly susceptible to infection; (c) A seriously ill patient; (d) A patient requiring special clinical attention, quiet surroundings, or privacy; (e) A patient likely to disturb others.