Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are registered for kidney machine treatment in each of the hospital regions; how many kidney machines are available; and how many homes have been fitted for kidney machines where none have been installed.
§ Dr. VaughanOn the number of patients receiving treatment on kidney machines in each of the health regions I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 13 January.—[Vol. 996, c.555–56]
Information is not available centrally on the number of patients awaiting treatment on kidney machines or the total number of machines which are available. Each patient on home haemodialysis would have his or her own kidney machine but in hospital two or three patients can make use of one machine by dialysing at different sessions. In addition, renal units generally have a number of kidney machines available for treatment of acute renal failure and also a small stock of reserve machines to cover breakdowns or emergencies.
I am not aware of any homes which have been fitted for kidney machines and where they have not been installed.