Private Patients (Hansard, 25 November 1985)

§ Mr. Dobson
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, for each year since 1979, the health and social services boards for which statutory auditors have issued reports of poor control over private patient income.

§ Mr. Needham
None.

Private In-patient Provision

Total number of patients who may be accommodated* Average daily number of paying patients occupying those beds Average occupancy rate per cent.

Eastern health and social services board

1984 90 16.7 18.5

1983 90 15.7 17.4

Northern health and social services board

1984 22 3.2 14.5

1983 22 3.3 15.0

Southern health and social services board

1984 14 2.2 15.7

1983 14 1.6 11.4

Western health and social services board

1984 23 2.5 10.9

1983 23 5.5 23.9

* These beds when not occupied by private patients are used for health service patients.

§ Mr. Dobson
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each year since 1979 and for each health and social services board (a) the income from private resident patients, (b) the amount written off as bad debts from private resident patients, (c) the income from private non-resident patients and (d) the amount written off as bad debts from private non-resident patients.

§ Mr. Needham
The information requested is as follows:—

Financial year Northern Board Southern Board Eastern Board Western Board

(a) Income from private resident patients (£)

1979–80 39,115 31,567 435,542 35,746

1980–81 45,056 24,554 315,967 63,496

1981–82 68,534 41,666 386,380 83,353

1982–83 88,788 58,242 558,213 84,424

1983–84 112,220 84,854 704,978 112,336

1984–85 118,832 84,884 805,335 112,255

(b) Amount written off as bad debts from private resident patients (£)

1979–80 Nil Nil 1,284 Nil

1980–81 Nil 134 56 Nil

1981–82 Nil Nil 291 Nil

1982–83 Nil Nil 2,398 Nil

1983–84 Nil Nil 363 Nil

1984–85 Nil Nil 3,038 Nil

(c) Income from private non-resident patients (£)

472W

§ Mr. Dobson
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, for each health and social services board for 1984 (a) the total number of private inpatients who may be accommodated, (b) the average daily occupancy of those beds by private patients and (c) the average occupancy rate percentage; and if he will give the 1983 figures for comparison.

§ Mr. Needham
The details are as follows:

Financial year Northern Board Southern Board Eastern Board Western Board

1979–80 623 92 5,223 39

1980–81 699 588 14,798 229

1981–82 4,092 455 10,349 1,168

1982–83 2,795 669 12,536 1,166

1983–84 1,624 2,050 16,871 1,403

1984–85 2,675 2,793 21,999 3,412

(d) Amount written off as bad debts from private non-resident patients (£)

1979–80 Nil Nil 46 30

1980–81 Nil 305 30 49

1981–82 4 Nil 88 Nil

1982–83 Nil 92 Nil Nil

1983–84 Nil Nil Nil Nil

1984–85 Nil Nil 1 Nil

Private In-patient Provision
	Total number of patients who may be accommodated*	Average daily number of paying patients occupying those beds	Average occupancy rate per cent.
Eastern health and social services board
1984	90	16.7	18.5
1983	90	15.7	17.4
Northern health and social services board
1984	22	3.2	14.5
1983	22	3.3	15.0
Southern health and social services board
1984	14	2.2	15.7
1983	14	1.6	11.4
Western health and social services board
1984	23	2.5	10.9
1983	23	5.5	23.9
* These beds when not occupied by private patients are used for health service patients.

Financial year	Northern Board	Southern Board	Eastern Board	Western Board
(a) Income from private resident patients (£)
1979–80	39,115	31,567	435,542	35,746
1980–81	45,056	24,554	315,967	63,496
1981–82	68,534	41,666	386,380	83,353
1982–83	88,788	58,242	558,213	84,424
1983–84	112,220	84,854	704,978	112,336
1984–85	118,832	84,884	805,335	112,255
(b) Amount written off as bad debts from private resident patients (£)
1979–80	Nil	Nil	1,284	Nil
1980–81	Nil	134	56	Nil
1981–82	Nil	Nil	291	Nil
1982–83	Nil	Nil	2,398	Nil
1983–84	Nil	Nil	363	Nil
1984–85	Nil	Nil	3,038	Nil
(c) Income from private non-resident patients (£)