Dialysis unit open by end of year

Welshpool's long awaited dialysis uint will be open by the end of the year, saving patients a 40 mile round trip to Shrewsbury.

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies brtoke the news in his weekly blog writing that a temporary unit would be open before Christmas.

"I arranged a conference call with Chrissie Hayes (Powys HB) and Nick Wilson (Wales Renal Network) and I can confirm that we are now entering the home straight," he said.

"Initially the provision will be a demountable (temporary) building with 8 dialysis machines located on the grassed area to the left as driving up to the hospital car park.

"The better site, attached to and below the hospital cannot be used because its needed to construct a permanent dialysis unit - for which the process of procurement will begin as soon as the dialysis service begins. And when the permanent building is up, the machines will be moved across and the demountable demounted."

The MP, who is also a patron of Kidney Foundation Wales, said,"The final business case has been prepared and submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government.

"There's been a question and answer exchange and its optimistically anticipated that Edwina Hart, the responsible Assembly Government Minister, who has shown a genuine commitment to renal disease sufferers during her 'rule', will approve the unit and associated expenditure later in September."