§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD AUCKLANDMy 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 what plans, if any, have been formulated to finance further research into the production of cheaper and more efficient kidney machines.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, financial aid from research and development funds will continue to be provided to encourage development of more efficient, safer and, it is hoped, cheaper apparatus for the intermittent dialysis treatment of patients with renal failure. Work directed to the improvement of techniques will also continue in universities. The equipment required includes the means not only of removing impurities from the blood but also of continuous monitoring of the patient during treatment. Manufacturers will, as hitherto, be supported by development contracts where appropriate, and by the purchase of items of equipment for evaluation. Financial assistance is provided by the Ministry of Health and the National Research Development Corporation specifically for work in this field. A number of manufacturers are themselves financing similar work.
§ LORD AUCKLANDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that fairly satisfactory reply. May I ask him two supplementary questions? First, have the Ministry borne in mind the views of Dr. Shaldon, of the Finchley Centre, who advocates more home dialysis in these units? Secondly, have the Ministry given thought to the number of people who would be able to work productively in industry and elsewhere if more facilities were given to research into these machines?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, in answer to the first part of the noble Lord's supplementary question I would say that consideration has been given to the possibility of the provision of more home treatment units, but the fact is that it is not simply a question of providing equipment; it is necessary also to have trained personnel available for the purpose of monitoring or servicing the equipment. 695 That is where the shortage is at the present time. As to the second part of the noble Lord's question, by which I think he means to ask, "What are the numbers of people who could benefit from this kind of treatment?", I understand that at the moment there are about 120 people on these machines but that usefully the service could be extended to 1,000 patients; and it is hoped—it is the objective—that facilities will be extended to cover that number when not only the machines, not only the equipment, but the trained personnel also are available.