§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pay beds have been phased out since the Health Services Bill became law and have not been made available for treatment of National Health Service patients.
§ Mr. EnnalsHealth authorities are aware of the requirement of the Health Services Act that beds released by the reduction of the 1,000 pay bed authorisations should so far as practicable be made available for the use of National Health Service patients and are doing their best to comply with it. Although precise figures are not available, we know that beds in side wards have become available and are being used for National Health Service patients, and that National Health Service patients are also now being treated in some private wings.