In October 2008 the Department's officials reported a capital cost estimate of about £9.51 billion (at Quarter 1 2008 prices) for providing 45,000 more single rooms, £211,401 per bed, while maintaining the existing bed capacity of the national health service estate. This costing was based on standard NHS costing methodologies.
NHS organisations make decisions locally based on practical considerations such as site restrictions, affordability as well as clinical and operational limitations. Any national estimate must therefore make assumptions regarding the methods likely to be used for providing more single rooms and the likely cost effects of such methods.
NHS officials have not been instructed by the Department to review the cost to the public purse of providing more single rooms within the NHS estate.