§ 55. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Health what is the position with regard to the supply and use of artificial kidney machines; how many are in use in this country; whether they can be used privately at home under the National Health scheme; what is the cost; and what action he proposes to take to encourage the use and supply of these machines.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI am advised that there is adequate provision of this equipment for established medical uses in the treatment of acute renal failure; statistics are not available centrally. Recent research indicates that these machines may be of considerable value also in the treatment of chronic renal failure, and further developments, including the possibility of using them at home, are being urgently studied. The cost of a machine and its associated equipment ranges from about £1,500 to £3,000.