§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will indicate the deficiences which exist in renal units in the various regions of the health service; what steps he proposes to take to improve the provisions: and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenFollowing is a table showing the number of patients per million population receiving treatment for chronic renal failure in each health region in the year ended 30th June 1975, the latest date for which figures are centrally available.
authorities to determine having regard to the resources available to them and their responsibility for providing a balanced system of health care. There is also a need for more transplants to take place, but this is governed by the availability of cadaver kidneys, which remains insufficient.
§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children in the United Kingdom are suffering from terminal kidney failure; what is the cost of treating such cases by dialysis; how many of the children are currently receiving such treatment; and, of these, how many are having the cost of their treatment wholly paid for by the State.
§ Dr. OwenEstimates of the incidence of chronic renal failure in children vary, but it is thought that between 100 and 461W 120 children per year in the United Kingdom would be suitable for treatment by dialysis and/or transplant.
Precise details of the cost of treating children by haemodialysis are not available. The initial cost of the purchase of the dialysis equipment and its installation in the patient's home is approximately £6,000. Subsequent direct running cost—e.g., consumables—may be £2,000 per year, to which must be added the cost of medical, nursing and other staff based in the hospital unit.
I am not aware of any children in this country who are being treated other than under the National Health Service, but many NHS kidney units from time to time receive charitable support.
Following are figures of the number of children in the United Kingdom under 15 at the start of treatment under treatment at 31st December 1974 and pew patients accepted for treatment during 1974. I hope to obtain more recent figures shortly and I will write to the hon. Member.
Patients under treatment at 31.12.74 Peritoneal dialysis 2 Haemodialysis in hospital 28 Haemodialysis at home 45 With functioning transplant 49 Total 124
New patients accepted for treatment in 1974 Total number Per million total population 36 0.6