§ Mr. Terry Davisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many kidneys were made available by the National Health Service for private transplant operations in the first six months of 1983.
§ Mr. John PattenCadaver kidneys procured through the National Health Service are allocated to patients drawn from a common waiting list, all of whom are eligible for NHS treatment. The files of the United Kingdom transplant service do not record any instance of such a kidney having been used in a private hospital or clinic. It is possible that some transplants were performed privately in NHS hospitals but the records would not show this. A patient cannot get a kidney more quickly by deciding to have the operation done privately.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that cuts in public expenditure will not affect facilities for the treatment of end stage renal failure.
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§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 8 November 1983, c. 75.]: Nationally, the revised cash limits should leave health authorities with about the same spending power as last year. We recognise the need to improve services for treating end stage renal failure and are considering how this can be achieved most effectively.