§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services pursuant to the answer of 24 January, Official Report, column 346, about the numbers awaiting kidney transplants in the west midlands, what proposals he has to improve facilities in the region to enable more patients to receive treatment.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe provision of facilities for the treatment of kidney patients is a health authority responsibility. I am advised that the West Midlands regional health authority has made financial provision for an additional 10 kidney transplant operations to be performed in 1986–87. In 1987–88 a new transplant unit is scheduled to open in Coventry with a planned eventual work load of some 20 kidney transplant operations a year. As the hon. Lady will be aware, a renal unit will also open at the New Cross hospital, Wolverhampton, in 1986–87 for the treatment of dialysis patients.