§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of a new kidney renal dialysis machine expressed in cash terms when it is purchased for the National Health Service.
§ Mr. John PattenI understand that a typical price would be in the range of £5,500 to £7,000, depending on the specification. Water purification equipment, if 571W required, would be likely to cost a further £1,700 to £2,000. The price of the machine is only one element in the total cost of haemodialysis. Estimates of this were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman) on 25 November. —[Vol. 49, c. 345–46].