§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number of persons in the United Kingdom requiring kidney machine treatment in the year 1977 were unable to be supplied with it; and what number of persons died during that year as a consequence.
§ Mr. MoyleI regret the information is not available in the form requested. In 1972 a joint committee of the Royal Colleges estimated that each year in the United Kingdom between 23–39 patients per million population might benefit from treatment for chronic renal failure either by dialysis or transplantation. Since then the medical criteria for acceptance for treatment have broadened and the probable total need is now estimated to be around 40 new patients per million population each year. In the year ending20W 30th June 1977, 14.8 new patients per million population were accepted for treatment. If untreated, end-stage renal failure is invariably fatal. In the same year 788 renal transplants were undertaken in the United Kingdom.
I am naturally concerned about this shortage of dialysis facilities and for this reason I recently announced that I am making available to health authorities an additional £1 million of special medical development money over the next three years for setting up a number of limited care dialysis units. Recently an additional £270,000 special medical development money was provided for paediatric dialysis.