This article is from page 4 of the 2008-07-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE HSE has confirmed that it is considering establishing a satellite kidney dialysis unit in Clare, accord- ing to junior minister Tony Killeen.
The Clare branch of the Irish Kid- ney Association has long since ar- gued for a life saving dialysis unit for the county.
The treasurer of the Clare branch, Peggy Eustace, said, “Ideally we would like to see a satellite unit in Ennis. At the moment our patients have to endure a long and difficult journey to Galway and Limerick
three times a week.”
According to Ms Eustace 85 people are currently receiving the life sav- ing haemodialysis treatment in an over stretched unit in the Mid West- ern Regional Hospital, Limerick.
This unit is catering for 20 people from Clare, 18 from Tipperary and 44 from Limerick city and county.
A further 16 patients must travel to the Wellstone clinic in Galway while work begins on a new satellite unit on the Dock Road in Limerick. Seven of these patients are from Clare.
Most recent research shows that in two years the need for dialysis in
the Midwest has increased by 41 per cent. This is significantly higher than other regions in the country making the case for a unit in Ennis all the
stronger. Four patients in the Midwest will require haemodialysis treatment
within the coming weeks, with many more in a pre-dialysis stage. Minister Killeen received confir- mation of the proposed development following a meeting this week with the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney. “A satellite dialysis centre is cur- rently being established in Limerick
to alleviate some of the pressure on the Dooradoyle facility. This will provide some relief for Clare patients in the short term. In the longer term, the HSE has said it would like to ex- plore the possibility of establishing a satellite unit at Ennis General Hos- pital.”
“The HSE stated that this option would be evaluated in light of the demand and throughput of patients. However, this is not likely to be de- veloped in the short-term. The HSE confirmed that there are currently 22 patients for Clare receiving haemo- dialysis treatment,” he said.