§ 66. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the progress of the kidney transplant programme.
§ Mr. WhitneyNo. Although the numbers of kidney transplants performed in 1984 and 1985 were significantly higher than in previous years, more such operations are urgently needed; the waiting list continues to rise as a higher proportion of kidney patients are diagnosed as suitable for transplantation. The factor that limits the expansion of the kidney transplant programme is the availability of donor organs. Ministers have taken a number of initiatives in the last two years to encourage more donation, the most recent an approach to the Confederation of British Industry and the Institute of Directors, who have agreed to bring the need to the attention of people in industry.