§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is available to him of the number in Scotland waiting for kidney machines in the home, the number of kidney patients with home machines and the waiting list of kidney patients for live donors, all broken down into constituencies.
§ Mr. Harry EwingInformation about the number of patients waiting for kidney machines in the home is not readily available on the basis requested. I understand, however, that any delays are not due to lack of machines; and it is only in the West of Scotland, for which the Greater Glasgow Health Board is presently setting up a new home dialysis training unit, that there are any significant delays in providing training for patients whose medical condition and whose home circumstances are suitable for home dialysis.
At 30th June 1977 there were 121 patients in Scotland with a kidney machine at home. Live kidney donors are almost invariably relatives since donor tissue must closely match that of the patient, and waiting lists are therefore not appropriate.