§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Minister of Health what is the total number of deaths from kidney failure in the last year for which figures are available; how many of these could have been avoided if treated with an artificial kindney; and what would be the estimated capital cost and annual running costs, respectively, of providing artificial kidney treatment for all these cases.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIn 1964 there were 6,765 deaths in England and Wales from diseases terminating in chronic kidney failure, but treatment by intermittent dialysis on artificial kidney machines is not suitable for all such patients and present indications are that only between one and two thousand might have benefited from it. At present the capital cost of providing hospital facilities for intermittent dialysis is about £2,000 for each new patient and the annual running cost of a hospital unit is about £2,000 per patient. Because there are so many variables, these figures give no more than a broad indication of what might be the cost of this treatment for all suitable patients.