HC Deb 14 December 1982 vol 34 cc115-6W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the central Birmingham health authority instructed two nephrologists not to start any more patients on treatment for chronic renal failure.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

At its meeting on 28 September 1982 the Central Birmingham health authority decided that, on a temporary basis, no new patients should be taken on to the continous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis programme until a new authorisation was agreed by the authority or by the district management team on its behalf. Since that time, however, some new patients have been taken on.

The decision was taken by the health authority because the number of patients being treated on the CAPD programme had risen well above the number originally budgeted for, and it felt unable to divert additional resources from other services.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the figures showing the level of treatment of renal failure for each regional authority and the amount spent in each region on (a) dialysis and (b) renal transplants.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The number of patients under treatment for chronic renal failure in each National Health Service region on 31 December 1980—the latest date for which figures are available—was as follows:

Region Total patients (all forms of treatment) Total patients per million population
Northern 553 178.38
Yorkshire 375 104.17
Trent 600 130.43
East Anglia 355 197.22
North West Thames 791 226.00
North East Thames 502 135.68
South East Thames 917 *254.72
South West Thames 110 *37.93
Wessex 201 77.31
Oxford 347 157.73
South Western 397 124.06
West Midlands 590 113.46
Mersey 348 139.20
North Western 389 94.88
* Patients from the South West Thames region are also treated in units in South East Thames region.

Information on expenditure is not collected centrally.