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Official opening of new satellite Dialysis Unit at the West Suffolk Hospital

Time:                2pm

Date:                Monday, 21st June 2004

Venue:             West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds.

A new Dialysis Unit at the West Suffolk Hospital is being officially opened by Amanda Goodman from BBC Look East on Monday 21st June.  The media are invited to look round the unit and talk to patients benefiting from the excellent new facilities.

In September 2003 the Unit, which has 12 haemodialysis stations, began to treat patients who live in the Bury St Edmunds and surrounding area, who would otherwise travel to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for dialysis. This is very beneficial to those patients who spend hours travelling many miles for treatment, some of whom previously had to travel to and from Cambridge two or three times a week.

This much-needed local unit, which has been built at the back of the West Suffolk Hospital, is a result of partnership working. The West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust is leasing the new accommodation to Addenbrooke's NHS Trust, who employ the nursing staff and manage patient care.  Fresenius Medical Care (UK) Ltd is providing the dialysis service. Agreements have been negotiated for the West Suffolk Hospital to provide some support services, such as pathology, radiology, pharmacy, and catering.

The satellite unit cost £449,000 to build.  The senior nursing staff appointed to be in charge of the West Suffolk Unit previously worked at Addenbrooke's. The patients were delighted that their nurses transferred with them, thus ensuring continuity of care.

Initially the Unit opened three days a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7am until 7pm. In May 2004 the unit expanded to six days per week, Monday to Saturday.

Dr Nick Pritchard manages the clinical care of haemodialysis patients at both the West Suffolk and Addenbrooke's Hospitals. 34 patients currently use the new Unit 3 times a week for dialysis, lasting 3-4 hours each time.

“The opening of the satellite dialysis unit at the West Suffolk Hospital is great news for people in the west of Suffolk who need dialysis, as it means they no longer have to continually travel to Cambridge,” said Trust Medical Director Dr Roy Bannon.  “Although provided from the West Suffolk Hospital site in Bury St Edmunds, the service is managed by staff from Addenbrooke’s who have experience and knowledge of kidney dialysis. The new Renal Dialysis Unit is another step forward in our goal of providing an excellent health service to the local community.”

June 16, 2004

 

 

   
West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust