§ 2.45 p.m.
§ BARONESS BROOKE OF YSTRADFELLTEMy 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 people in England and Wales are dependent upon artificial kidney machines in their homes.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)My Lords, at June 30 this year there were 964 home dialysis patients in England and Wales.
§ BARONESS BROOKE OF YSTRADFELLTEMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. It is a great credit to the Government that such numbers of people are able to have artificial kidney machines in their own homes. Can my noble friend tell me whether any advice has been given to these patients regarding these machines should there be a cut in power while they are using them?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, most patients can manage, provided the power cuts are regular and planned. Hospital authorities have made contingency plans to take some patients back to hospital and to provide portable generators for others in the event of an emergency.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, could my noble friend say whether 7 any comparable figures are available for Scotland?
§ LORD ABERDAREI am sorry, my Lords, not without notice.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether the figures he has given mean that all those who have asked for machines have had their requests met?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, the figures I have given are those people who are on home machines. Of course there are 545 patients in hospital units. It is not only the availability of machines, but rather more the adaptation of the home to be able to cope with the machine.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, am I to understand that the 500 patients in hospital come under the two categories mentioned by the noble Lord, or are there patients who want to come out of hospital but for whom machines are not available?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, the machines are available; it is a question of the local authorities making the adaptations to homes in order that people can use the machines at home.
§ LORD LLOYD OF KILGERRANMy Lords, would it be troubling the noble Lord unduly, without notice, for him to state the number of persons in Wales alone who are on these machines?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, I am afraid I would also need notice of that question.
§ BARONESS MASHAM OF ILTONMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether there is a risk of people who are looking after patients on kidney machines in their own homes contracting hepatitis? What precautions are taken if the patient is a carrier?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, every possible precaution is taken and, so far as I know, it has never occurred in a home dialysis case. People are put through various tests to see whether or not they are carriers. If they are carriers then very often a disposable unit is available. But every possible precaution is taken.
§ LORD PLATTMy Lords, while congratulating the Government very 8 sincerely on the progress they have made towards the provision of dialysis in renal failure, may I ask, is it not a fact that, for whatever reason, there are still many more candidates than there are dialysis machines, and would not the position be greatly eased by a slight change of the law that would make it easier to get donor kidneys, cadaver kidneys, for transplantation?
§ LORD ABERDAREWe do not think so, my Lords. We believe that in every case it is necessary to make sure that the next of kin are agreeable to the use of a cadaver kidney and also that the law is satisfactory as it stands.