§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the number of transplants which have been performed on private patients in National Health Service hospitals using organs which would have been suitable for National Health Service patients waiting for treatment, for the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyNone that I am aware of. I am informed that in 1985, 34 heart transplant operations and 15 liver transplant operations were performed privately in National Health Service hospitals, though 29 of these heart transplant operations and three of these liver transplant operations were performed on patients who were eligible for National Health Service treatment. Cadaveric organs procured in National Health Service hospitals are offered in the first instance to patients who are eligible for National Health Service treatment, and only if there are no such patients on the waiting list for whom they are suitable are they offered to patients who are not eligible for National Health Service treatment. Exceptions may be made in536W cases of extreme clinical urgency, but I have not been informed of any such cases in 1985. No kidney transplant operations were performed in National Health Service hospitals in 1985 on patients not eligible for National Health Service treatment using cadaveric organs procured within the National Health Service.