Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital’s new renal dialysis unit has officially opened – and means more dialyses sessions can now take place each week.
The unit was opened with Ken Devaney, a trustee of the Eric and Marion Scott Trust, performing the unveiling of a commemorative plaque commissioned for the occasion.
The facility was created through a donation of £250,000 by the Eric and Marion Scott Trust, supported by the Ramsey Cottage Hospital Welfare Trust.
On opening the unit, Mr Devaney said: ‘It is an honour to be invited to perform the official opening. The Scott Trustees have welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the project.’
Health Minister David Anderson MHK, who also attended the opening, said: ‘We are most grateful to Treasury for the capital funding that made the renovation of the former Maughold Ward possible and to the Scott Trustees for their generous donation to provide equipment and plant for the facility.
‘The Renal Satellite Unit here at Ramsey will improve the capacity to deliver vital life sustaining treatments to patients with kidney disease, enabling more dialysis sessions to take place each week.
‘The opening of the unit brings this crucial service into a community setting, closer to the patients’ homes,’ he said.
‘The delivery of healthcare services in community settings, where appropriate, is a key part of the department’s Strategy for the Future of Health Services,’ he added.
Senior nurse for Intensive Care and Renal Services, Pam Makin, said: ‘The equipment that the Scott Trust has helped to provide includes haemodiafiltration dialysis machines which enable us to give a choice of the types of dialysis we offer to patients.
‘Not only are we able to treat and support Isle of Man patients closer to their homes with our increased capacity, we can now offer dialysis to holiday patients,’ said Ms Makin.
‘Since we opened in June, we have provided dialysis to four UK patients who booked sessions through their local hospital, before coming on holiday.
‘We have even had enquiries for next year’s TT period, so the patients can come to the island to watch the motorcycle racing, and to continue to receive dialysis treatment,’ she added.
‘The feedback from both Isle of Man and UK patients has been very positive.’
Cath Quilliam, director of Community Nursing, thanked all who had been involved in bringing the unit to fruition.
The renal dialysis unit will provide clinics six days a week between 8am and 6pm.
