HC Deb 31 January 1984 vol 53 cc125-6
4. Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about resources for open-heart surgery at Wythenshawe hospital, Manchester.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I have answered two parliamentary questions from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) and I have received two letters, including one of 12 January 1983, from the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Lloyd

Will the Minister accept that even with recent announcements of increased resources for open-heart surgery at Wythenshawe hospital, the resources are grossly inadequate for the need? Is he aware that the chairman of the district health authority is on record as saying that the evidence is that —even with these additional resources— the waiting list will continue to grow and as the Senior Cardiothoracic Surgeon has said premature deaths will continue to occur. Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman accept that the Government have a responsibility for such needless deaths, and what does he propose to do about this human tragedy?

Mr. Clarke

Open-heart surgery is one of those areas where great medical advance has been made, so that we can now treat successfully patients who a few years ago would have died, but it is no good describing that kind of situation as though it were some sudden area of deprivation. It is a sudden improvement in the Health Service, where resources are now following medical advance, providing more operations, and last year at this hospital 666 operations, more than ever before, were carried out. As the hon. Gentleman said, finance is now available to open an extra bed for this purpose in the intensive care unit. The region is now looking at proposals to expand the unit to 1,000 patients treated per year from next year. However, this must be judged alongside all the other increases in claims for health care, and we must remember the pressing claims of renal dialysis and many other areas when considering the allocation of funds in the acute sector.

Mr. Favell

My right hon. and learned Friend will be aware that I have written to him on this subject this year and that he has received a reply from the regional health authority chairman. Is he aware that one of the main problems is that the Wythenshawe hospital unit is a victim of its own success? It has been enormously successfull with this new form of surgery and, because of that, waiting lists have grown. It is true that every effort is being made by the hospital to tackle those waiting lists, and my right hon. and learned Friend will be pleased to learn that I have received a letter only today from a constituent saying how grateful she is for the open-heart surgery that she has just had at Wythenshawe hospital.

Mr. Clarke

I confirm all that my hon. Friend said, including the fact of his representations on the subject. This is an area where funds have just been increased so that the unit can go up from nine to 10 beds. We are treating more patients successfully, making this one of those successes of the Health Service with which those who administer it try to catch up as rapidly as possible.

Mr. Alfred Morris

How many people are on the hospital's waiting list for heart surgery, and what is the average waiting time? Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that six patients on the waiting list died within a fortnight just before Christmas? Is he also aware that two people a week have been dying because, it is said, of inadequate staffing? Is it not deplorable that there have been deaths that could have been prevented, at a time when many thousands of nurses are on the dole?

Mr. Clarke

The waiting list is a little over 300. It is, sadly, of the nature of a waiting list of this kind that patients will die while waiting for heart treatment. Indeed, some patients who have the operation die afterwards. What we have is a new source of demand because of the medical success of the people in this unit, which has been getting more money and staff as we attempt to cope with that increased demand. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will welcome the recent increase in staffing and funding of the unit, as he will welcome the fact that the region is looking at plans for further expansion.