§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if, during the forthcoming campaign to increase public awareness of the need for kidney transplantation, he will bring to the attention of all general practitioners and all general physicians in Wales the need to refer all cases of end stage renal disease to a consultant nephrologist in a specialist renal unit for investigation of possible treatment.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe referral of patients with end stage renal failure is a matter of clinical judgment based upon the general practitioner or general physician's knowledge of the patient.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware of any patients being treated for end stage renal disease in Wales outside of regional renal units under the primary care of general physicians with an interest in nephrology using the technique of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsNo. I would not expect any general physician to provide a service of this kind outside of a renal unit.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether there are any health authority guidelines in Wales relating to registered diabetics who report with end stage renal disease; and if he will give details of the numbers of these patients in 1982 and 1983, the proportion who were referred to specialist renal units and the proportion of these who were treated either by dialysis or transplantation.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsNo. Decisions on the treatment of patients with end stage renal failure are based on clinical judgment and are not a matter appropriate for health authority guidelines. The further information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans to invite tenders for two pilot schemes for small renal dialysis units at Carmarthen and Bangor; if he plans to consult area health authorities and the health unions; what is the proposed time scale; and what is the estimate of the costs of the proposed development.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsDiscussions will be held with the relevant health authorities and other organisations interested in operating small dialysis units to review proposals. The units will be operational as soon as practicable, and full capital costs might range between £70,000 and £120,000 per unit depending upon the size of the unit.