[N]ext Wednesday (20 June) marks the official opening of the newly expanded Renal unit at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven (WCH), allowing more people to receive kidney dialysis treatment closer to home.
To help meet the ever increasing demand for dialysis services, the new unit at WCH has been expanded from seven treatment spaces to 11. The extra four spaces will allow a further 16 people to receive their dialysis treatment in WCH. The expansion, which is located adjacent to the current unit in the previous maternity ward, will also provide a training room for home haemodialysis to build on the work on self-care dialysis which is ongoing within the unit.
Dr Andrew Bow, clinical director for Renal services, said: “Nationally, demand for dialysis services is growing at six per cent per annum. The expansion of our services means that far fewer patients will need to travel to Carlisle for their treatment. Dialysis patients attend hospital for their treatment three times per week, so to have a service that suits them closer to home will make a huge difference to their lives.
“We are also working to provide more home haemodialysis care, to further free up capacity for those who require their dialysis in a hospital setting. This offers many benefits to patients who are suitable to undertake their treatment at home. The Home Therapies team currently provide peritoneal dialysis and plan to expand the service to allow patients the additional option of home haemodialysis, avoiding regular trips to the hospital for their treatment.”
The Trust’s Renal unit recently came first out of 56 renal centres for overall patient experience in a national survey about renal care. The survey asks renal patients a range of questions about their care, including access to a renal team, privacy and dignity, communications, support and decisions about care.
The Home Therapies team were also shortlisted for a Burdett Nursing award for their ongoing dedicated work, securing £4,000 funding for the Trust.
