§ 16. Mr. Lofthouseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the fee charged by the National Health Service for kidneys made available for transplants done in private clinics and hospitals.
§ Mr. FowlerNo fee would be charged apart from a sum to cover costs of transport.
§ Mr. LofthouseIs the Secretary of State aware that that answer will shock and concern the House and the country? Is it not a scandal that although in June last year about 715 20,000 people were waiting for kidney transplants those with the wealth could afford to buy life while those who could not afford to do so had to die? Will the right hon. Gentleman take any necessary action to stop the flow of kidneys to the private sector until the NHS has enough for its needs? Donors would never wish to provide kidneys so as to make profits for members of the medical profession.
§ Mr. FowlerI shall consider any evidence that the hon. Gentleman places before me, but I have no reports of such a supply. There is no question of queue jumping and private patients will be looked at in the same way as NHS patients.
§ Mr. PavittWill the right hon. Gentleman convey my apologies to the new Minister for Health concerning my early-day motion on just one aspect of his duties? I have now withdrawn the motion. Will he try to persuade the television authorities whose programmes dissuaded donors from giving kidneys to broadcast programmes giving the other side of the coin, as requested by the British Medical Association?
§ Mr. FowlerThat is beyond the scope of the original question. However, we should like as many people as possible to carry kidney donor cards.