HL Deb 24 October 1967 vol 285 cc1519-20
LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision is to be made for additional isolated accommodation in hospitals for patients who have had kidney operations, in view of their particular liability to infection.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)

My Lords, I understand that my noble friend is particularly concerned about the accommodation to be provided for patients who have undergone kidney transplantation. This kind of operation is only now emerging from the research stage, and there are many problems still to be solved before it becomes into general use. The precise requirements, including the degree of isolation necessary, need further study. My noble friend may be assured that Her Majesty's Government are continuing to take expert advice on the whole subject of kidney transplantation, and will act on the advice they receive.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for that Answer. Is he aware that in many hospitals after the operations these cases of transplanted kidneys are accommodated in general surgical wards, and that the danger of infection to them in such wards is very great indeed? Indeed, cases of infection are occurring with serious results. Is my noble friend also aware that doctors who have patients in these wards are not able to visit them at their beds, because they are serving in other wards and might bring in infection? In view of these circumstances, will the Government take very urgent action to secure isolated accommodation for these cases?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, may I give the noble Lord a little background. A meeting of experts was convened by the Medical Research Council in June of this year, and this meeting concluded that there was not enough knowledge available at the present time for them to assess the degree of control which should be exercised over the transplanted patients' environment in order to keep down infection. Further studies on this question are being pursued. The point is that in the early days of research into renal transplant the patient was subjected to massive doses of radiation by X-ray to suppress the body's natural rejection of foreign tissues. This made the patient highly susceptible to infection. The effect of suppressing the natural rejection now can be achieved by drugs which can so control the body's defence mechanism against infection that it is not wholly inactivated.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, can the noble Lord say when it is likely that the results of these inquiries will be known?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, it is a statistical question: when there is a valid sample.