HL Deb 27 April 1960 vol 223 cc87-9

2.42 p.m.

LORD STONHAM

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the urgent need for cadaver eyes for corneal grafting and of the long waiting list of patients requiring this treatment; and if, in the hope of increasing the number of donors, they will, through the publication of an explanatory leaflet, seek to inform the public of this need.]

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, enquiries made of Hospital Boards last year showed no general shortage, but some—I might say notable—local difficulties. In the view of Her Majesty's Government these needs are best met not so much by general publicity aimed at the future as by improving or extending the existing arrangements by which large neighbouring hospitals supply the corneal grafting centres. My right honourable and learned friend the Minister of Health, is however considering further what practical steps might best be taken to increase supply where necessary.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that at Moorfields, the largest centre for corneal grafting in the country, there is a waiting list of never less than 100 cases, and that these people have to wait as long as eighteen months in unnecessary blindness? All that I am asking for is the kind of publicity that makes people aware of the need for eye banks, and to help people in charge of hospitals which might become donor hospitals to supply this need. I have one such hospital myself.

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, I was aware of the figures at Moorfields—in fact, that was one of the hospitals to which I was referring. The areas where supplies are not considered adequate are North London, Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool. The position in those places has been kept under review and supplying hospitals reminded of the need. It is noticeable that some hospitals are far more successful than others—I might mention East Grinstead Hospital, where Mr. Rycroft is the ophthalmic surgeon. They are most successful in sending out teams to neighbouring hospitals in the area and making people conscious of this need. I know that the noble Lord himself will appreciate the great difficulty and delicacy of the situation in going into a hospital and asking patients who are very ill whether they will give their eyes, because it is tantamount, one might think, to suggesting that they are on the point of death.

THE EARL OF ARRAN

My Lords, may I, as a governor of Moorfields Hospital, confirm the situation as it has been outlined by the noble Lord? Furthermore, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that this lack in donor material is entirely due to the restrictive operation of the Corneal Grafting Act, 1952? Would he perhaps ask the Minister whether, in view of the sympathetic attitude of the public towards corneal grafting in general, he would consider giving unfettered effect to that Act?

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, I think that what the noble Earl may be referring to is the power which is given to hospitals to rely simply on the absence of any known objection, but they have been advised by the Minister that wherever relatives are available their consent should be obtained. I think it is generally felt that were the former method adopted it would cause great public perturbation and would not be popular, but would be considered as being arbitrary. I think that that is what the noble Earl is referring to.

THE EARL OF ARRAN

It is indeed. What I was saying is simply that the present situation is even more embarrassing. What happens now is that a patient dies and that, before his eyes can be used for this excellent purpose, his relations have to be asked—in other words, in the same breath they have to be told that their father, brother or husband has died, and asked, can his eyes be used? That is the position. It is an odious position for any responsible person to have to put to the next of kin.

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, naturally I will consider that and pass it on to my right honourable friend, but I think it is very much a matter of opinion as between two most difficult attitudes to the case.

LORD STONHAM

Is the noble Lord aware that I personally share the objections which he has just voiced? But would he not suggest to his right honourable friend the Minister, as an alternative, that when people come into hospital and are asked to sign an agreement for post-mortem, the words should be added to the form that they are willing, in the event of their decease and providing their relatives have expressed no objection, for their eyes to be used for therapeutic purposes? That would be a form of consent without giving offence. The point is that the eyes must be excised within six hours of death, and they can virtually be used only if a person is in hospital.

THE EARL OF ARRAN

May I support that?

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, I am entirely in sympathy with the noble Lord's aims in regard to this matter, as everybody must be. I will certainly put forward his latest proposal to my right honourable friend.

LORD STONHAM

I am most grateful.