§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many kidney machines can be purchased for the National Health Service for £1 million.
§ Mr. John PattenThe capital cost of a kidney machine is between £6,000 and £8,000 according to specifications, so the number that could be purchased for £1 million would be between 125 and 167. The major cost of haemodialysis provision is, however, the revenue expenditure on staffing, drugs, fluids and other consumables. Machines may be used by more than one patient, but the revenue cost of each patient is in the region of £10,000 a year and can be as high as £16,000.