§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private beds are in each NHS hospital in the West Roding district of the Redbridge and Waltham Forest Area Health Authority; and if there are any plans to increase the numbers.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThree hospitals in the West Roding health district are authorised to make available a total of seven beds to private patients, but the number of private in-patients may not at any one time exceed three at Whipps Cross and at Forest hospitals, and two at the Jubilee hospital. The area health authority has requested that the individual hospital limits be removed to afford greater flexibility within the overall group limit and we are agreeing to this.