Private medical care (FOI)

​Request

I am told that there are frequently not enough private rooms for private patients and they are therefore having to stay on public wards.

Please give me the reason why this is the case.

Response

HCS currently have 14 private patient beds on Sorel ward for use by private patients undergoing surgical procedures that require an overnight stay or longer. In addition, the private wing (Sorel Ward) also accepts Private Patients who have an admission to hospital without a booking due to an acute or chronic illness episode.  In addition, there are 4 beds on the Day Surgery Unit for use by those patients who have ongoing day case procedures only. 

Surgical Patients are booked a bed either on Sorel ward or the Day Surgery Unit as appropriate by the Consultant Surgeon when a date is agreed for surgery between the Surgeon and Patient. However, on occasion, capacity overtakes demand. For example, when an acutely ill patient is admitted to the Unit or a patients stay extends longer than expected. At such times patients booked onto the private wing are either offered a different date for surgery or offered to be accommodated on a public ward.