The national health service pays for kidney machine

Member of Parliament's quick action after reading appeal

Malcolm Sweet, the 19 year-old boy who needs an artificial kidney machine to save his life will have all the necessary treatment paid for by the National Health Service. This was stated by Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, the Member of Parliament for Finchley & Friern Barnet in an exclusive interview with the Finchley Press at the House of Commons on Tuesday.

The news came as the Appeal for £850 needed for the machine topped the mark and entered the £1000 bracket.

At the time of going to press local organisations and individuals had contributed £1544 to the Appeal and the organisers were hoping enough would be raised to buy two of the machines. By last Sunday night with the donations from local church services the £850 had almost been raised and it was topped with a flood of donations in the Monday morning post. All this week money has been rolling in.

Mrs. Thatcher told the Finchley Press that, although no-one had approached her for help she contacted the Minister of Health as soon as she saw the local papers last weekend. “Naturally I wanted all the facts, as it seemed to me that the full resources of the NHS should be mobilised to help this courageous young man.

“On Monday I therefore had an interview with Sir Barnett Sloss, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health—and himself a doctor. He had already received my letter and set some enquiries in train. He was able to tell me that another machine had been ordered that morning by the Royal Free Hospital. He promised to complete his enquiries and let me know the full facts by letter on Tuesday afternoon.”