Assembly Member Visits Bang up-to-Date Kidney Dialysis Unit

12.00.00am GMT Wed 28th Oct 2009

Michael German visits the state-of-the-art renal unit at Newport's St. Woolas hospital

Michael German AM praised the work and modern facilities at the Renal Unit at St Woolas Hospital following a recent visit. However, he called on the government to allow a similar high level of service to be available to people living in north Gwent and Merthyr.

Patients told Mr German about the excellent care they receive from specialist nurses based at the Renal Unit. Mr German said, "I am pleased to see a facility of this quality here in Newport, fully-equipped with the latest technology."

The unit was opened eight years ago after an agreement with a private company which provided the expensive equipment and pays for specialist staff salaries.

The Liberal Democrat Assembly Member has been looking into the provision of renal services in Wales South East and last week was shown around the state-of-the art facility in St. Woolas Hospital. He met consultant Dr Steve Riley, who told him that numbers of patients who need dialysis are growing, mainly due to better early detection of kidney disease and to the fact that people are living longer.

"It's good to see the work that's going on here," Mr German commented. "However, currently there are no facilities for dialysis patients in the north of Gwent. The aim is for kidney patients to be able to receive dialysis within 30 minutes of their homes. I'd like to see the Assembly Government making concrete plans for a similar unit in the north, for example in Abergavenny. Unfortunately, at the moment, they have little money to spare for this kind of investment and they're unwilling to consider allowing a private company to provide the finance."