§ Lord SEGALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients were awaiting kidney transplants at the last available date; what was the longest waiting period among this number; how many kidney transplants had been performed in the previous 12 months; and what is the anticipated time at present rate of progress that the waiting-list for kidney transplants is likely to be cleared.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, on 31st January 1978 there were 1,123 patients in the United Kingdom on the waiting-list for a kidney transplant. Over 60 per cent. of the patients now entering the waiting-list may expect to receive a kidney within six months, but the remaining 40 per cent. may have to wait for a significantly longer period before a well-matched kidney becomes available. Due to special circumstances, one patient has been on the waiting-list for over six years. Although, in the year ending 30th June 1977, 788 kidney transplants took place, and the number of kidneys becoming available is steadily increasing, no significant reduction in the waiting-list is expected in the foreseeable future. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Services earlier this month launched a publicity campaign to make the public more aware of the importance of kidney donation.
§ Lord SEGALMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for that reply, and also his Department for the campaign they are conducting. In approaching 870 doctors to assist in this campaign would my noble friend's Department urge them to make a special appeal to persons who may wish to be cremated? Would they also approach the cremation societies to assist in this campaign? Would they not consider the issue of a special certificate to kidney donors, similar to that issued to blood donors, to give wider publicity to the urgent need that still exists for far more kidney donors than are at present available?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, kidney donor cards are now more widely available than ever before. Since 1972 no fewer than 16 million such cards have in fact been issued. They are to be found in general practitioners' premises. chemists' shops, citizens' advice bureaux, and local social security offices. They will shortly be available in unemployment benefit offices. I take the various points that my noble friend has made and, at the risk of being misunderstood (and I hope I shall not be misunderstood), would say that probably the most important single factor contributing to this shortage—and I am referring now to kidney donations—is the failure of doctors to identify potential donors and set in motion the process of organ removal.
Bearing all these things in mind, my right honourable friend has commissioned a market research undertaking which will commence fairly soon. The purpose of it is to explore public attitudes to the carrying of cards with or without endorsing the signature of the next-of-kin. That is a concern so far as some people are concerned. There is also a concern about the difficulties of an opting-out system. This piece of market research will clearly indicate, we hope, what the public think about this whole matter, and we shall then be able to take some action in the matter.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, is the Minister aware that one of the minor difficulties people face in donating kidneys and other parts of their bodies after their death is that they have to carry a separate card for each purpose? You have one card for the cornea, another card for the kidneys, and so on. Would it not be of assistance if the Department of Health and Social Security could sponsor a single document which people carried enabling any of their organs to be removed?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, we have this in mind, together with some sort of endorsement on driving licences if this becomes possible, as most people carry them.
§ Lord CLITHEROEMy Lords, will the noble Lord be good enough to tell us up to what age kidneys are worth anything?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, not being a doctor I should not like to make a pronouncement on this matter, other than to say that kidney transplants in the main are given to persons between the ages of 15 and 60 years of age.
§ Lord PLATTMy Lords, while being somewhat encouraged by the steps which the Govermnent are at present taking, may I ask whether the noble Lord could tell us how soon we may expect the result of this market research, which I consider to be very important?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I am obliged for what the noble Lord says. Perhaps I ought to inform your Lordships that I, and also my Department, have been under some pressure from the noble Lord on this matter for some considerable time, and I think it has had a significant effect. We are hoping that the research findings will be available some time in the summer.
§ Lord SEGALMy Lords, could my noble friend consider issuing something much more substantial than the existing kidney donor card to those public-spirited persons who are willing to serve as kidney donors?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, the whole purpose of the review which my right honourable friend is undertaking, in addition to the market research, is to consider all these possibilities, and he will have been greatly helped by some of the comments that have been made in your Lordships' House this afternoon.