§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many kidney patients have been treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in the last three years; and how many of these developed serious side effects.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeInformation on the total number of kidney patients treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in the last three years is not yet available. The number in the United Kingdom receiving this form of treatment on 1 March 1982 is estimated at 923. At present, about one-sixth of all patients on CAPD have to transfer to other forms of treatment within 12 months owing to peritonitis or other serious abdominal problems.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide additional resources for more research to improve continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for kidney patients.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Medical Research Council, which is the main Government-funded body supporting research into renal disease from its grant-in-aid from the science budget of the Department of Education and Science is supporting some research in this field. The need for further research effort to improve continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for kidney patients will be kept under review, but in the meantime the council is always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals for research in this field. Where the research needs is simply for development or evaluation of equipment, the DHSS will consider funding research from its own resources.