§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are made for dialysing psychiatrically-disturbed patients other than sending them to a kidney unit in a general hospital.
§ Mr. John PattenPatients referred for haemodialysis normally spend an initial period in a renal unit in a general hospital and thereafter may continue to be treated in the renal unit or may dialyse either at home or in a satellite unit. The participation of relatives or friends is encouraged. Whether special arrangements are made for psychiatrically disturbed patients is a matter for the health authorities concerned following the clinical advice of the relevant consultants.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increases in spending on the installation of kidney dialysis he anticipates over the next five years.
§ Mr. John PattenIt is for health authorities to decide what proportion of the resources available to them is to be allocated to the provision of a particular service. My right hon. Friend has, however, asked health authorities to develop services for patients suffering end stage renal failure as a priority within the acute sector, and all regional health authorities have recently agreed to increase the annual acceptance rate of new renal patients to at least 40 per million population by 1987. The extent of the increase in expenditure on dialysis in the next five years will depend upon the way in which individual health authorities organise their services and on the balance between dialysis and transplantation.
63WIn the first nine months following the launch of our donor card campaign in February 1984, the number of transplants rose 35 per cent. (to 1129) compared with the same period in the previous year.