§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if regional health authorities allocating resources for the treatment of renal failure allow for a special sum to be used for extra expenses of alteration of premises for home dialysis in addition to the cost of providing the kidney machine and its initial installation.
§ Mr. MoyleThe allocation of funds for the treatment of renal failure is a matter for regional and area health authorities and there is no actual record of the methods of financing these services. However, health authorities are responsible for funding any necessary adaptations to provide suitable accommodation for home dialysis, and also for meeting the running costs of the machines and maintaining the dialysis room at the required temperature. I would expect health authorities to take these factors into account when determining their budgets for home dialysis, and I have no evidence that they are not doing so.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many regional health authorities have not yet taken up his special allocation for renal units for children.
§ Mr. MoylePaediatric dialysis is a highly specialised service and the additional special medical development funds were made available last year to enable the expansion of facilities for child patients in each of six supra-regional centres. Five of the six health authorities expected to take up these funds have indicated their intention of doing so, and proposals from two other regions are being considered.