Renal Unit patients at the James Paget University Hospital are receiving their life-saving treatment from new hi-tech dialysis machines after a major investment by the Trust.
Dialysis is a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly, with blood diverted into an external machine where it is filtered before being returned to the body.
Now, following a significant capital investment, patients are receiving their dialysis via a fleet of 24 Fresenius machines which are more reliable, efficient, produce less waste - and, for staff, are easier to set up and operate.
Patient Christopher Bartlett, 74, who is in his third year of treatment at the unit, said he was pleased to see the new units in place. “The staff are great here - and they totally deserve to have these new machines,” he said.
The machines have a number of features including the capability to offer an advanced form of dialysis - high volume haemodiafiltration - which will be offered to suitable patients in due course.
The project to install the machines has involved numerous departments from across the hospital, including finance, procurement, medical engineering and the estates team, who oversaw the installation of a new pump and pipework system to deliver the treatment fluids required by the machines.
Renal unit staff - from Sister to Health Care Assistants (HCAs) - led a working group which was responsible for both implementation and delivery of the project on schedule. They also undertook ‘super user’ training and cascaded this to all colleagues on the unit, in readiness for using the new machines.
Divisional Operations Manager Gemma Stebbings, who oversaw the project to purchase and install the new machines, said: “This really was a team effort where many people played key roles in bringing this project together.
“I am delighted to see the new machines in use, as they are a significant improvement, and will bring benefits for both patients and staff for many years to come.”