Glace Bay Dialysis Unit Construction to Begin this Spring

Construction of a new six-station dialysis unit at the Glace Bay Hospital is expected to begin this spring.

Government has approved funding for construction and a request for proposals will be issued next month.

“Dialysis treatment is hard on patients and their families, with multiple trips to the hospital,” said Business Minister Geoff MacLellan, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey. “This new unit will help ease the burden by allowing patients to get their treatment closer to home. It is a welcome addition to the Glace Bay Hospital and those who rely on dialysis.”

Dialysis patients now travel to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney for treatment. About 24 patients from the Glace Bay area are expected to use the new unit.

Funding for part of the project will come from the estate of the late Thomas Peach of Glace Bay who left $1.9 million with the intent of helping establish dialysis services in the community.

“This new unit reinforces our ongoing commitment to enhance access and provide quality care to our patients,” said Dr. Tom Hewlett, nephrology medical lead for Cape Breton. “The unit will also help improve the quality of life for many patients in the Glace Bay area. Being able to provide service closer to their community will make a huge difference in the lives of local renal patients and their families.”

Government has also approved funding for the design phase to expand the dialysis units at the Halifax Infirmary and the Dartmouth General Hospital.

Six dialysis stations will be added at each hospital. When complete, there will be 15 stations at the Dartmouth General Hospital and 18 at the Halifax Infirmary, in addition to the 34 stations in the Dickson Building at the Victoria General site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre.

Projects to build new or expand existing dialysis units are underway at six hospitals across Nova Scotia.

Construction of a new 12-station dialysis unit at the Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville is underway and is expected to be completed by next winter.

Construction of a new six-station dialysis unit at the Digby General Hospital has started and is expected to be completed by spring 2020.

A new 12-station dialysis unit is also being added to the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater as part of a larger redevelopment project. This project is now in the design phase.