§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the availability of hearts, livers, pancreases, kidneys, lungs and eyes for transplant surgery.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythOnly kidney and corneal transplants are carried out in Scotland, although of course all organs donated can be used anywhere in the United Kingdom, wherever the most suitable tissue match can be found. The number of multiple organ donations in the United Kingdom has risen this year, enabling the heart, lung and liver transplant programmes to advance. It is a matter for serious concern, however, that the number of kidney and corneal transplants in Scotland has decreased over the last few years because suitable organs have not been available. It is important that the public in appreciating the benefit which transplant surgery can offer are aware of the need for organs. Such understanding and awareness are of great assistance to the medical profession in their approach to relatives of potential donors about donation.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of people who have died in hospital whose organs would have been suitable for transplant but where no donation was made during the last five years; and if he will list the principal reasons for such action not being taken.
348W
§ Mr. Michael ForsythInformation in the form sought is not available.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients are waiting for transplant operations of(a) heart, (b) liver, (c) pancreas, (d) kidney, (e) lung and (f) cornea, respectively; and what is the maximum and minimum waiting time for such operations.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThis information is not centrally available. The main constraint in undertaking such operations is the availability of suitable organs.