§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the reason for the differences in acceptance rates for diabetic patients for treatement of renal failure in various countries of Europe since 1981; if he will provide the most recent data on the acceptance of diabetic patients, by treatment type, for treatment of renal failure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenThe acceptance of patients for treatment is a matter for clinical decision. Differences in referral criteria and the availability of treatment facilities no doubt influence acceptance rates. The most recent data available on acceptance of diabetic patients by type of treatment are those for 1981 and were given in my reply to the hon. Member on 5 March at columns448–50.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he can give details of how the extra funding of £1 million for renal services has been spent; if he will estimate the improvement in treatment levels resulting from this initiative; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenThe additional funds were allocated to health authorities to enable them to finance new or experimental initiatives in the provision of renal services, or developments where the level of provision might benefit substantially from a comparatively small injection of money. My right hon. Friend has asked for reports at the end of the financial year on how the funds have been spent. It is too early to give details either on this or on the impact it may have had on treatment levels.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the different acceptance rates for diabetics on renal replacement therapy programmes in the various major countries for 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenInformation from the European Dialysis and Transplant Association on the rates at which people with diabetes were accepted for treatment for end stage renal failure in six major European countries during the years 1980–82 is given in the table. The rates are expressed as the number of new patients with diabetes accepted for treatment per million total population.
1980 1981 1982 Federal Republic of Germany 4.3 4.5 5.0 France 3.0 3.1 3.0 Italy 2.0 2.6 2.9 Spain 1.7 2.3 2.9 Netherlands 1.7 2.4 1.9 United Kingdom 1.3 1.6 2.1
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which regional health authorities have committed to exceed the target level for new patients' acceptances for dialysis and transportation of 40 by March 1988; which regions, if any, have plans to reach the treatment levels currently prevailing in other large European countries and in the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. John PattenWe expect to announce shortly the outcome of our discussions with regional health authorities on target levels of treatment for new end-stage renal failure patients.