§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the private hospitals in Northern Ireland which offer acute medical and surgical care, giving for each hospital the number of beds and the owner; and if he will list and give the number of proposed beds in each of the private hospitals known to him which are being built or which have been granted planning permission.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThere are two private hospitals in Northern Ireland, the Ulster independent clinic and the St. John of God hospital, both of which provide acute medical and surgical care. The number of beds in each is 36 and 50 respectively, although these are not used exclusively for acute care. The Ulster independent clinic is registered as a limited company and the St. John of God is owned by a religious order, the Order of Saint John of God. I am not aware of any proposals to provide further private hospitals in the Province.