Mr. Coombesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the number and the location of renal dialysis units in the Birmingham hospital region; what plans there are to establish new units; how many patients are undergoing renal dialysis at home; and when he expects there will be sufficient facilities to cope with the demand for kidney treatment and transplant.
§ Mr. AlisonThe renal dialysis units in the Birmingham hospital region are situated at Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, East Birmingham Hospital, Wordsley Hospital and the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent. There is also a combined dialysis and renal transplantation unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. No new regular dialysis units are planned at present. Forty-nine patients in the region are currently being maintained on home dialysis and this number is expected to increase to 100 during 1973–74 at an additional capital cost of £150,000. The rate of future expansion of the renal dialysis and transplantation services to meet all needs is a matter for the boards concerned. Their decisions will be taken in the light of demands158W for other services within the resources available and the need to provide a balanced regional hospital service.