§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Minister of Health what Government assistance is being given to medical units specialising in the transference of hearts and other human organs.
§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on his plans to assist scientific practice and investigation into the transference of internal organs from one human being to another; how far this practice and investigation has progressed; and what is the number of cases in which the operation was successful or otherwise, distinguishing between English and Scottish figures.
§ Mr. K. Robinson:Corneal grafting is undertaken at many hospitals in the National Health Service. Kidney transplantation is being undertaken at a small number of such hospitals, with support to some extent from the Medical Research Council; and, as I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Oakes) on 14th December, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have appointed an Advisory Committee to advise us on the further development of work in this field. Research related to the transplantation of other organs, including the heart, is being supported by the Medical Research Council and the Ministry of Health, as well as by universities.
Precise information of the number of operations is not available and the time has been too short for an appraisal of permanent results even in the major centres.—[Vol. 756, c. 231–2.]