Investment Supports Expansion of Satellite Dialysis Unit

People from Annapolis Royal to Windsor, and surrounding areas will soon have better access to dialysis treatment.

Kings North MLA Jim Morton, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson announced today, Nov. 28, that a new, 12-chair satellite dialysis treatment facility will be built in Kentville.

"Providing better care sooner to patients and their families is a top priority," said Mr. Morton. "A modern, expanded facility will provide better access to the entire region, increase capacity, and support dialysis treatment closer to home for patients requiring more complex care."

The satellite unit will be built on-site at Valley Regional Hospital to ensure quick and easy access to emergency and lab services.

"This is good news for people in our community who are living with complex care needs, this will mean care closer to home,” said Tim Guest, vice president of Acute Care and chief nursing officer at Annapolis Valley Health. "Support that is as close to home as possible helps to contribute to the overall well-being of people coping with challenging health needs."

Across the province, about 615 Nova Scotians receive dialysis - 510 receive hemodialysis treatment and 105 peritoneal treatment.

Richard Cameron has been receiving dialysis in Berwick since August, three times a week, after losing his transplant of six and a half years. Before that, he received dialysis treatment for five and a half years.

"Before my transplant I was on dialysis for five and a half years, some of that time spent traveling to Halifax for treatment," said Mr. Cameron. "Until we were able to get a spot closer to home, my spouse and I thought we may have to sell our house and move to the city to continue treatment. Expansion of dialysis in the region will mean less travel, fewer expenses, and will give my spouse and I more freedom and a better quality of life."

The new satellite unit will be operated under the collaborative care model with Annapolis Valley Health and Capital Health working together to deliver the service.

The province is investing more than $1 million in 2013-14 to start the construction to add the 12 new chairs.

"This is wonderful news for patients with kidney disease in the Annapolis Valley, many of whom spend hours each week travelling to and from treatment, in addition to hours on the dialysis machine," said Dr. Ken West, head, Division of Nephrology, Capital Health. "The government, by investing in a dialysis unit at the Valley Regional Hospital, will make it possible for sicker patients to receive treatment closer to home, reducing some of the burden on patients, families and the community."

In last year's capital plan, the province announced $420,000 to design the expansion of the renal dialysis unit at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. This year, the province will continue that commitment by investing in the construction of a 12-chair unit, adding four additional chairs to the present capacity.

Since 2009, the province has announced more than $2-million in investments to make life better for Nova Scotians with kidney failure and their families, including:

• $420,000 to plan the expansion of the renal dialysis unit at the QEII Health Sciences Centre
• $100,000 for peritoneal dialysis training and support programs in South West Nova Scotia
• $526,000 for home hemodialysis machines for patients in Cape Breton District Health Authority and Capital Health
• $988,000 to hire 12 additional registered nurse's full-time equivalents to provide more complex care at satellite dialysis units.

This is the third straight year the province will release the capital plan before the spring budget. This sends a clear signal of what the province intends to do in the year ahead, and gives the private sector greater opportunity to prepare for projects, creating efficiencies and cost savings for the province.