§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply of 2 March 1981, Official Report, column 39 if he is now satisfied that sufficient progress is being made in providing facilities for kidney treatment.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI am glad to say that worthwhile progress is being made because the number of patients being treated for chronic renal failure has continued to increase in all National Health Service regions. The most recent figures were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 14 February—[Vol 37c.28–9.] I am still not satisfied with the present level of these services, but I believe that health authorities are now fully aware of the need to maintain their development and have the resources to do so. In our recent announcement of resource allocations to regional health authorities for 1983–84 we have asked them to ensure that proper provision is made for services such as those for treating chronic renal failure—which are provided on a regional basis. We continue to make every effort to increase the supply of kidneys for transplantation, about which I shall be making a further statement shortly.