§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time between the decision that a patient is suitable for home dialysis and the installation of a unit in his home and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoylePatients require a period of special training before commencing home dialysis. The length of this period is affected by various factors, including the patient's clinical condition, his learning ability, his home circumstances and the availability of someone to assist him. The average length of time required for training is not known, but it is usually856W between three and six months, during which it should normally be possible to make the necessary adaptations to a patient's home, although occasionally some home adaptations take longer than this.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the expenditure by area health authorities on adaptations to patient's homes necessitated by the installation of a renal dialysis unit in the last year for which figures are available; if he is satisfied that authorities are fulfilling their duty to make such adaptations whenever home dialysis is desirable; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleDetails of the total cost of home conversions are not available centrally. Individual costs vary considerably, but in 1976 the average conversion cost, excluding equipment, was estimated to be around £1,500.
The establishment of as many of their patients as possible on home dialysis is one of the prime objectives of most dialysis units, and I have no evidence that health authorities are not fulfilling their responsibility to carry out home adaptations whenever these are necessary.