HSE signs contract to build satellite dialysis unit near mid-west hospital

A CONTRACT has been signed by the HSE for the construction of a satellite dialysis unit near the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

Patients from the mid-west have been forced to get treatment in Galway and Dublin because the regional’s dialysis unit is operating at full capacity and cannot take on new patients.

Michael Noonan TD, said the new satellite unit will be ready for use by September 2008: “The HSE’s response is as a result of ongoing representations by me and a parliamentary question I put down to the Minister for Health urging immediate action.

“The dialysis unit at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital has been working to full capacity for sometime. New patients wishing to access its services have been unable to do so and are forced to travel very long distances, even as far as Dublin to get dialysis. Because of the frequency of dialysis treatment some patients were hardly home when they had to travel again.”

Mr Noonan said he was satisfied that a number of initiatives, both short term and medium term, will resolve the problem.

Mr Noonan said: “A tender competition was recently held for the provision of a 15-station satellite dialysis unit in Limerick. The tender was awarded to Fresenius Medical Care. The new satellite facility will be in the south side of Limerick close to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital. The company are currently applying for planning permission to adapt the premises.

“The service is expected to be fully commissioned on or before September 1, 2008. Patients treated in the satellite unit will remain under the care of the referring consultant and multidisciplinary team from the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.”

The HSE has also funded a home dialysis programme for medically suitable patients in the Limerick area as an alternative to hospital dialysis.

Mr Noonan said: “Pending provision of this service and because of the urgent needs of this area in the short term, the HSE has entered into a further contract with a private dialysis provider in Galway which will be able to accept mid-west patients immediately and will help to avoid more protracted travel times for mid-west patients to Dublin and elsewhere.”

He said he has been informed the regional hospital is developing a capital plan for a major extension which will expand the existing dialysis unit in Limerick to 25 stations and accommodate requirements for the area in the medium to long term.