Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced funding for dialysis services in north Powys.
The Welsh Assembly Government is providing £218,000 to Betsi Cadwaladr University and Powys teaching Health Boards to get equipment for a new temporary satellite renal dialysis service at the Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welshpool.
Patients will have the opportunity to undergo treatment locally, reducing the need for travel out of the county. Previously dialysis patients would have had to undertake regular and sometimes lengthy journeys for treatment.
As well as providing improved access for the patients who will be treated there, the temporary service will increase capacity to allow for growth in demand.
The temporary unit will be a stepping stone towards the permanent unit at the Victoria Memorial Hospital Welshpool which is due to open in summer 2012.
Mrs Hart said:
“The new interim unit will enable patients to benefit from improved services until the permanent facility is built.
“Having this facility in north Powys will greatly improve the care for patients locally and reduce the need to travel which will not only improve their health but also their quality of life. Like all renal units it will serve as a base for services such as home therapies and anaemia care as well as training and education for primary care staff to help in the early management of kidney disease.”
“I am committed to improving renal services across Wales. The draft budget set aside for renal dialysis expansion this year is £6.9m.”
Chris Mann, Chairman of Powys Teaching Local Health Board, said:
“I am delighted that patients from north Powys will soon be able to access dialysis facilities within the county. This is a truly exciting development and one which I know will be welcomed wholeheartedly by renal patients.”
Michael Williams, Chairman of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said:
“We are delighted to be working with our colleagues in Powys to develop the new Renal Satellite Unit in Welshpool. This service will greatly enhance the treatment and care provided to renal patients and their families in north Powys.”
