asked the Minister for Health the average annual subsidy paid by the Exchequer, directly or indirectly, towards each private hospital bed in the country.
Written Answers. - Hospital Beds Costs.
748.
The subvention payable by health boards towards charges for services in private hospitals, including private psychiatric hospitals, amounts on average to about £800 per occupied bed per annum.
The average does not take account of payments by health boards based on actual costs in respect of services provided in certain private psychiatric hospitals under "catchment area" arrangements.
749.
asked the Minister for Health the average annual cost to the Exchequer of each hospital bed in the country.
It is estimated that the average annual cost to the Exchequer of a hospital bed is £18,750. This figure is derived from total estimated non-capital expenditure including out-patient costs and total estimated occupancy in 1982 for different types and sizes of public hospitals.