To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many strategic health authorities provided regional dialysis capacity plans to his Department by 5 February 2008; what his estimate is of the demand for dialysis capacity in 2008-09, in each strategic health authority; and what changes in capacity he will propose in 2008-09, for each strategic health authority. (185993)

[holding answer 18 February 2008]: As of 5 February 2008, three strategic health authorities (SHAs) have provided dialysis capacity plans to the Department. Projected growth in demand for renal replacement therapy is set out in the National Service Framework (NSF) for Renal Services. It is predicted that the number of patients requiring renal replacement therapy will rise to around 45,000 over the 10 years ending in 2014. The NSF modelling was undertaken at a national level and the Department does not have dialysis demand projections broken down by SHA area.

It is for primary care trusts as commissioners of renal services, in collaboration with their specialised commissioning groups (SCG), to meet their current population's dialysis needs and have robust expansion plans to meeting rising demand. The Department highlighted the need for SCGs to pay particular attention to areas where significant increases in demand are likely to lead to pressure on services in the NHS Operating Framework for 2008-09 and renal replacement therapies were cited as such an example.