Planning Begins for New Satellite Dialysis Unit in Digby

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The province announced today, Jan. 14, it will begin design work for a new six-station satellite dialysis unit at the Digby General Hospital.

The new unit will serve patients in Digby and Annapolis counties, reducing travel time and relieving congestion at other dialysis centres.

A request for proposal for design will be issued later this month.

“Dialysis can be hard on patients and their families, especially when they have to travel frequently to receive their treatment,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “Once established, this new dialysis unit will mean a great deal to patients who live in Digby and Annapolis counties.”

Right now, patients in Digby and Annapolis counties must travel to Yarmouth or Berwick for dialysis treatment. The new dialysis unit will mean that most patients who require more complex hemodialysis care will be able to receive it at the Digby General Hospital and will not have to travel to Yarmouth for services.

“With a new dialysis unit underway in Kentville and another one being designed for Digby, we are adding dialysis spaces across the province so patients who need this life-saving treatment can get it closer to home,” said Janet Knox, president and CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

This week the province also announced construction of a new 12-station dialysis unit at the Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville. It will replace the smaller unit at the Western Kings Memorial Health Centre in Berwick and can provide treatment to higher risk patients who often must travel to Halifax.

“For almost three years, I’ve been driving 80 minutes to get to my dialysis treatment in Yarmouth,” said Bill Anderson of Deep Brook, Annapolis Co. “I’ve only missed one appointment due to weather, but it’s especially difficult during the winter months. I welcome the thought of getting treatment much closer to home.”

The design phase for the dialysis unit is expected to take about six months.

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Source: Release