MP praises dialysis funding decision

Montgomeryshire MP, Glyn Davies, has welcomed the news that a temporary kidney dialysis unit could be up and running early in the New Year.

On Friday, Assembly Health Minister, Edwina Hart, revealed that the unit, which will be hosted at Welshpool Hospital, would get the green light and ease the burden that local patients suffered by having to travel into Shropshire for treatment.

Mr. Davies (right) is Patron of Kidney Foundation Wales and was involved in establishing a Montgomeryshire Renal Dialysis Campaign Group, He also manages a fund to which many local people have contributed and will be used to enhance the experience of those patients who will use the unit.

He said: “For many years, Montgomeryshire sufferers from Kidney disease have been anticipating the provision of a dialysis unit on the site of Welshpool’s Memorial Hospital. Local campaigners have faced delays, disappointments and deep frustration by the failure of the Welsh Assembly Government to deliver over a long period.

“The announcement means that the provision of a temporary dialysis unit in Welshpool can now proceed, and it is expected that the ‘demountable’unit will be up and running early in the New Year. Equally importantly, the decision means that we can expect to see a permanent unit, attached to Welshpool Hospital, opening in 2012.

“This is wonderful news for those of us who have been campaigning for a dialysis unit in Montgomeryshire for the last several years.”