§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether all National Health Service hospitals which have wards or wings specifically set aside for private inpatients use the beds therein for non-paying National Health Service patients when they are not fully occupied by private patients.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke:We expect health authorities to make good use of all the beds that they have. There is a statutory requirement that the use of accommodation and services for private patients will not to a significant extent operate to the disadvantage of National Health Service patients and one of the six principles on private practice which we agreed with the medical profession states that single rooms should not be held vacant for potential private use longer than the usual time between National Health Service patient admissions.