A $300,000 project to upgrade the dialysis unit at the Souris Hospital is expected to be complete mid-March, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“Construction of the new dialysis unit is coming along well and remains on schedule and on budget,” said Minister Currie. “The unit will be equipped with state-of-the-art water filtration units that meet today’s strict requirements. The modern and spacious unit will offer patients more privacy, improved infection control and better nursing work areas.”
The unit was temporary closed in July 2014 when potential issues were identified with the filtration systems that purify the water that enter the patient’s bloodstream.
“Our options were to upgrade or replace the existing systems. In the interest of patient safety and high quality care, it was clearly the best decision to replace the existing systems which would have had to be replaced eventually,” said Minister Currie. “We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the patience and cooperation of patients and families during the construction period, and we look forward to the resumption of dialysis services in Souris in the very near future.”
“With increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease which are two major risk factors for kidney failure, the demand for dialysis services will continue to increase,” said the minister. “By increasing our capacity to treat dialysis patients from 75 patients in 2007 to 153 patients today, we are better positioned to offer good access and high quality dialysis services today, and to meet future challenges.”
The Souris dialysis unit currently serves six patients and is supported by four nursing staff. The annual operating budget for the service is $394,000.
Government is committed to Island-wide access for dialysis services with locations in Alberton, Charlottetown, Summerside and Souris. Since 2007, government funding for dialysis services has more than doubled, from $2.7 million in 2007 to $6 million in 2014-2015.