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10. ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY MACHINES
Whilst the hospital authorities are responsible for providing and maintaining the necessary equipment,
local authorities are able to make arrangements for the adaptation of premises. During the
year adaptations were made for one resident at a cost of £220. The Council decided that its policy
would be to make such charge as is reasonable, having regard to the means of the person concerned.
The type of adaptation which is necessary in these cases consists of making the walls and ceiling
of the treatment room crack-proof and washable, and the floor waterproof. A sink with a good
supply of water must be installed and it is also necessary to provide storage space for sterile dressings
and containers of fluid. In some instances, in order to accommodate these requirements and still
leave space for a bed, it is necessary to build an extension. The cost of modifications usually varies
between £50 - £250.
The limiting factor in the development of this service at present is not a shortage of kidney
machines but the need to provide the supporting hospital accommodation and the recruitment and
training of hospital medical, nursing and technical staff. The Ministry has assured the Council that
it is proceeding as rapidly as possible with these arrangements.
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