HC Deb 21 January 1983 vol 35 cc233-4W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what agreements have now been reached for the recovery of the costs of facilities at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, which are made available to National Health Service patients; what issues remain to be settled; and what are the estimated annual sums involved.

Mr. Blaker

The cost incurred at this hospital for the clinical assessment of ex-Far Eastern prisoners of war are recovered from the Department of Health and Social Security and amounted to £120,000 m 1981–82. No other charge is currently made for the use of facilities at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital by National Health Service patients, but the Ministry of Defence has been examining the recovery from the local health authority of the cost of certain specialised services made available for NHS patients. It has been necessary to undertake special arrangements for the retrieval of detailed information in a form acceptable to the local health authority. Negotiations have not yet been concluded, and it is not therefore possible to estimate the finance involved.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service men, (b) service dependants and (c) National Health Service patients received inpatient treatment at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, during each of the quarters ended 31 December 1981, 31 March, 30 June and 30 September 1982.

Mr. Blaker

The numbers of those receiving inpatient treatment at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, were as follows:

Quarter ended Service men Service dependants NHS patients
31 December 1981 944 223 657
31 March 1982 1,040 288 800
30 June 1982 854 398 706
30 September 1982 836 272 703

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the overall bed occupancy rate at Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, for the quarters ended 31 December 1981, 31 March, 30 June and 30 September 1982.

Mr. Blaker

The overall percentage rate of available bed occupancy at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, is as follows:

Quarter ended Beds occupied Per cent.
31st December 1981 71.3
31st March 1982 77.7
30th June 1982 68.0
30th September 1982 71.6

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated annual running cost of Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, for 1982–83 and the estimated cost of inpatient stay for (a) an average service man, and (b) an average civilian patient.

Mr. Blaker

The estimated running cost of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, in 1982–83 is 14.2 million at current prices. The estimated average cost of a service inpatient's stay is £1,321 and for a civilian patient £944.

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