News release

Investment Supports Expansion of Renal Dialysis Unit

Health and Wellness

The province is investing $420,000 to provide better care for Nova Scotians receiving dialysis treatment in Halifax.

The funds will help with planning for the expansion of the renal dialysis unit of the Dickson Building at QEII Health Sciences Centre.

Health and Wellness Minister Maureen MacDonald made the announcement today, Nov. 15, as part of the province's new capital plan to make life better for families.

"Providing better health care for Nova Scotians and their families is one of our top priorities," said Ms. MacDonald. "This strategic investment will help reduce overcrowding and improve patient flow at the unit, allowing more people to receive dialysis, sooner."

About 650 Nova Scotians receive dialysis – 550 receive hemodialysis treatment and 100 peritoneal treatment. More than 250 patients receive treatment at the Dickson Building.

Cynthia Stockman, health services manager for outpatient nephrology, said the investment will make life better for Nova Scotians living with kidney failure.

"Expansion of the hemodialysis facilities in the Dickson Building will be a benefit to all kidney patients in Nova Scotia," she said. "At some point, every renal patient in the province who receives hemodialysis treatments, and those who require complex care services at the QEII, will benefit from the improvements to the Dickson Building Unit."

Dr. Steven Soroka, medical director of hemodialysis at Capital Health, said the investment is a positive step to improve access to renal care in Nova Scotia.

"We are pleased to see this recognition of the critical need to expand and improve services for patients with kidney disease who receive care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre or are supported by the Capital Health Renal Program," said Dr. Soroka. "We look forward to working with the Department of Health and Wellness on further steps to ensure that we can achieve and maintain the required current standard of kidney care across the province."

This year, the province has announced more than $2 million in investments to make life better for Nova Scotians with kidney failure and their families. In addition to today's announcement, other investments are:

  • $988,000 in the 2011-12 budget to hire 12 additional registered nurses full-time equivalents to provide more complex care at satellite dialysis units
  • $626,000 in the 2012-13 budget to expand the home dialysis programs across the province, allowing patients to receive care and support closer to home, and reducing the need to travel for treatment.

For the second time in the province's history, government is releasing the capital plan before the spring budget. The 2012-13 Capital Plan will invest millions to make life better for families. It will create thousands of good jobs, grow the economy, and provide better health care. The Capital Plan in invests in projects that are most important to Nova Scotians like emergency rooms, schools, roads and hospital equipment.