New chairs relieve dialysis unit

New chairs relieve dialysis unit
BY JENNA DAROCZY
07 Jun, 2011 03:37 PM
KEN McMiles and his wife were enjoying their retirement by travelling far and wide in their caravan.
But these days, he can't be away from his Fairfield West home for more than a day because he relies on five hours of dialysis every second day at Fairfield Hospital.

"Back in 2000, my blood pressure went sky high so I had a kidney biopsy and the doctors said I had about two years before I'd need to be on dialysis," he said.

"I was lucky though, I got away with 3? years before my kidneys failed.

"It's definitely been a complete lifestyle change, from travelling the country with my wife in our caravan to dialysis every second day, but it's one of those things you just have to accept and it's certainly better than the alternative."

Mr McMiles spent the first years of treatment driving to Liverpool Hospital because of limited dialysis chairs at Fairfield. But since the expansion of the dialysis unit, he's been able to travel just four or five minutes for his treatment.

He uses one of the 17 chairs in the recently refurbished dialysis unit, inspected by new Health Minister Jillian Skinner and Smithfield MP Andrew Rohan on Friday.

General manager of Fairfield Hospital Chris Leahy said the visit was an "informal meet and greet", not a chance to lobby for future projects.

"The new chairs have been operational since November or December last year, but there is a constant demand for renal dialysis chairs, so we would always fill as many as we open," he said.

"But the new chairs have certainly been a welcome relief and also help to relieve pressure from Liverpool Hospital."

The $353,760 refurbishment added five dialysis chairs, which operate six days a week, allowing an extra 60 dialysis treatments a week for 20 patients.

Mr McMiles said the nursing staff and regular patients bonded before starting their sessions.

"I was in the navy for 27 years so I know it can be hard to maintain discipline while being friendly, but these nurses are wonderful and strike the perfect balance," he said.

http://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/news/local/news/general/new-chairs-relieve-dialysis-unit/2187737.aspx