The NHS isn't proposing to charge for dialysis

News that kidney dialysis may no longer be prescribed by NHS England is beginning to cause alarm on Twitter and elsewhere.

But it seems to have been misunderstood by some.

The NHS isn't planning to stop giving dialysis to patients in England when they need it, or to start charging for it.

What it is proposing is passing responsibility for dialysis services to over 200 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), which are regional groupings of GPs already responsible for about £65 billion of NHS spending. Dialysis is currently a "prescribed service" commissioned centrally by NHS England.

The British Kidney Patient Association (BKPA) has reported that the government is going to consult on the change for the six weeks from 1st December. The BKPA are opposing the change on the basis that not enough is known about the way it would work. They've called for a delay of a year so that they and others can engage with the process, and be certain that services are safeguarded.

We might find out more about the plans tomorrow. Asked to give a statement about the proposals last week, William Hague said: "I do not think there is any immediate need for a statement, because there will be Health questions in a few days, which will include Topical questions."