§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the existing number of pay beds in National Health Service hospitals.
§ Dr. VaughanAt 5 June 1981 there were 2,406 authorised pay beds in the NHS hospitals in England. In addition there is a reserve of 10 beds approved for use only when a private patient needs to be admitted as an emergency at a time when a hospital's existing pay beds are occupied. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the breakdown of these figures by hospital.