'Third World' kidney care claim

'Third World' kidney care claim

Kidney patients in part of Wales are suffering "Third World" conditions with renal units at breaking point, a charity has claimed.

Published: 2007/09/20 10:58:51 GMT

Kidney Wales Foundation said some were going "hundreds of miles" a week for treatment in "unacceptable" conditions.

At one hospital it said dialysis was carried out in an "old broom cupboard", and at another 16 patients were treated in a portable cabin sharing one toilet.

Health Minister Edwina Hart said she was considering treatment provision.

The charity said it was at the West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen, that 16 patients receive dialysis in a cabin, with one radiator and one toilet.

Alex Cottrell, 55, who undergoes dialysis lasting almost four hours, three times a week, said facilities were "appalling".

FOUNDATION DEMANDS:
More dialysis units across Wales
Better transport and facilities for patients
A dedicated transplant unit at the University Hospital of Wales
One renal organisation to co-ordinate kidney services in Wales
Radical measures to double the number of organ donors by 2011
People Like Us campaign, source: Kidney Wales Foundation

Mrs Cottrell, who lives near Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, is driven to hospital by volunteers along with three other patients.

One of is an 80-year-old man who is picked up at 0530 BST, and does not return home until mid-afternoon.

She said the treatment was "very painful", as two big needles were inserted so blood could be taken out and cleaned by machine.

She said patients were unable to hear the televisions provided, which would be a "distraction" and help patients psychologically.

"When I'm on the machine, sometimes I've got to gee up the person next to me to come to the next session," she said.

'Old cupboard'

"People have low moods, especially if you've got a chest infection, vomiting, or diarrhoea, you've got to do this journey the same."

Ms Cottrell said having nearer facilities would make life easier and having the treatment "more bearable".

The foundation, which promotes kidney research and care, also claimed that facilities in Morriston Hospital, Swansea, were so stretched patients were treated in an "old cupboard" attached to the ward.

John Reever, chair of the Welsh Kidney Patients' Association said the cupboard known as "the dingle" was "claustrophobic and unsafe".

But hospital management at Swansea denied they had converted a "broom cupboard" into a makeshift dialysis station.

Subjecting sick patients to treatment in poor facilities and making them wait hours to get home is simply not acceptable in the 21st century
Allison John, campaign leader

Liz Rix, Swansea NHS Trust director of nursing, said the area had originally been a machinery storeroom and had later been used as an isolation cubicle, before it was converted into a dialysis station just outside the renal ward.

However, some members of the Ysbyty Gwynedd Kidney Patients Association said the treatment at the three North Wales units at Bangor, Glan Clwyd and Wrexham were "second to none".

"It's wrong that all the units have been tarnished with the same brush. The association hasn't received a single complaint about the unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd since it was set up 10 years ago.

"Although, because of the geographical nature of the area, some patients are travelling long distances for treatment.

"We would like to see small satellite units being set up to alleviate this problem, and we've been campaigning for this for many years."

A campaign entitled People Like Us is being launched by the Kidney Wales Foundation, and the Welsh Kidney Patients' Association.

It is being led by Allison John from Fishguard, who was the first in the UK to have a heart and lungs, liver and kidney transplant.

She said: "Subjecting sick patients to treatment in poor facilities and making them wait hours to get home is simply not acceptable in the 21st century."

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said: "The [health] minister has met with The Kidney Wales Foundation and she is considering the provision of dialysis treatment in Wales."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7003268.stm