HC Deb 23 April 1985 vol 77 c407W
Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration has been given to issuing an instruction to health authorities to ensure that there are common standards of availability of kidney dialysis; and if he will estimate the current shortfall in this treatment against known need.

Mr. John Patten

In January 1984 my right hon. Friend announced his intention to set targets to ensure that a minimum standard of renal service provision would be achieved in all regions, and each regional health authority has now agreed that new renal patients will be accepted for treatment at an annual rate of not less than 40 per million total population by 1987.