§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to ensure that additional costs of metered water for essential water intensive health treatments, including hydro-therapy and renal dialysis, do not fall on(a) the health service and (b) patients. [32711]
§ Mr. SackvilleSince April 1994, local health authorities have been responsible for meeting the costs of water used in the course of home haemodialysis by patients whose water supply is metered by their local water company. I am not aware of other conditions which require equivalent volumes of water for treatment provided at home. These arrangements have been introduced relatively recently; there are no plans to review them at this stage.