'It's a godsend': Dialysis, palliative care expanded at Western Hospital

Improvements to the dialysis and palliative care units at Western Hospital in Alberton, P.E.I., were officially opened Tuesday.

The previous palliative care unit was renovated as a hemodialysis space, which the province said will make for better patient privacy. The new unit is also bigger, with improved water quality technology.

Richard Fleming makes the trip from his home in Kildare Capes to Western Hospital three times a week.

Fleming began dialysis last September and his life-saving treatment lasts for between four and five hours.

He said having the facility close to home has made a big difference in his life.

"Especially in wintertime when you don't know what the roads are going to be like," Fleming said. "The nurses are handy and they can get in fairly quickly in a storm or something like that. It's a godsend really."

Health officials said the changes mean patients can receive their treatment in a more spacious and private setting.

"The dialysis unit becomes their second home," said Colleen Bannon, nurse manager at Prince County Hospital, Western Hospital and Souris dialysis. "Many of them are here for upwards of 15-16 hours a week and it's important that they have the resources, a comfortable space and that they're not travelling every day."

"It's tiring," added Cheryl Banks, director of hospital services and the provincial renal program. "It's a hard job doing dialysis and we want to do the best we can for our patients by keeping them as close to home as possible."

"We have about 107 patients across P.E.I. receiving hemodialysis treatment, as well as another 40 people that we know are out there that may require dialysis at anytime, and then there's the other population that we don't even know," Banks said.

The Atlantic branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada welcomed the larger space.

"Dialysis treatments are needed three to four times each week to sustain life for a person living with end stage renal failure," said development co-ordinator Marlene Dorey in a news release.

"Each treatment lasts for four to five hours, so having a more modern dialysis unit close to home will have a positive impact on quality of life for these patients."

The palliative care unit was moved into a new area and expanded.

The unit includes space dedicated to family members, a kitchen, and a washroom with a shower.

"It's critical for families when their loved one reaches the end of their life to be able to be there as a family with children, grandchildren, have meaningful events," said Dr. Mireille Lecours, provincial palliative care medical consultant.

"We had people getting married in these kinds of situations, so it's really critical."

The government invested a total of $750,000 to complete the renovations.

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