§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what efforts are being made to promote amenity beds.
§ Mrs. CurrieExisting instructions to health authorities are for amenity beds to be offered routinely to National Health Service patients when they are given a date for admission.
We are currently seeking powers in the Health and Medicines Bill to enable health authorities to charge for amenity beds on a commercial basis. Later in the year we will issue guidance to promote the use of amenity beds under these new powers.