§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many heart transplants were carried out in 1979, 1980 and 1981 and so far in 1982; and how many of these patients have survived to date.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information is as follows:
Year Number of heart transplants Number of patients still alive 1979 3 2 1980 25 10 1981 24 14 1982 (up to 18 March) 10 9 TOTAL 62 35
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent on heart transplants in each year since 1979 to date; and how much per transplant this represents in each case.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe main costs of the current heart transplant programmes at Papworth and Harefield hospitals are being met from charitable funds. The only direct contribution by the Department is a special allocation of £100,000 to cover the capital cost of improving the operating theatres and intensive care unit at Papworth, and £50,000 additional revenue support made to the Cambridgeshire area health authority in 1980–81. Figures are not at present available centrally for additional costs met from the normal allocations of the health authorities concerned.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people he estimates are currently waiting for heart transplants.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI understand that six patients at Papworth hospital and three at Harefield hospital have been accepted and are currently waiting for a heart transplant.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department undertakes any studies into the costs and benefits of heart transplants; and if he will give details.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Department is supporting a research project to study the costs and benefits of the current heart transplant programme at Papworth and Harefield hospitals.
An interim progress report is expected by the end of December 1982.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he is giving to funding the heart transplant unit at Harefield hospital from January 1983 when its principal source of private funds runs out.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have no plans at present to provide special funding for this purpose.