The provincial government is making an investment that will lead to better lives for Quinte area residents suffering with serious kidney disease.
At the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) Belleville Satellite Dialysis Unit Friday Bay of Quinte riding MPP Todd Smith announced almost $4.9 million toward the expansion of the unit.
The work is to begin in about a year and when complete the number of kidney dialysis stations will increase from 15 to 20.
“Kidney dialysis is not an option for patients. The treatment is absolutely necessary and life-saving and it must be done several times a week. A person’s blood has to be cleaned of toxins. Expanding the Belleville unit is going to make getting dialysis more convenient for patients in this area. Our government believes health care works best for patients when they can receive care closer to home,” said Smith.
Some Quinte region residents are now travelling Highway 401 to dialysis appointments in Napanee and Kingston.
KHSC’s Executive Vice-President of Quality and Partnership and Regional VP of Cancer Care Brenda Carter said, “The funding announced today will ensure that we continue to deliver more care closer go people’s homes and meet the demand for dialysis and other multidisciplinary care in the Quinte area for years to come.”
Brenda Carter, KHSC Executive Vice-President of Quality and Partnerships and Regional VP of Cancer Care. (Photo: Quinte News)
Over 70 patients currently use the Belleville Satellite Dialysis Unit regularly and when the number of stations is expanded by five, the unit will be able to serve another 30 patients.
Sharon Urquhart of Quinte West-based volunteer health care advocacy group OurTMH has been tirelessly pushing for more dialysis units for over five years. In fact MPP Smith said Urquhart pressed the point clearly to him each and every time the two met in recent years. OurTMH had hoped a satellite clinic would be located at Trenton Memorial Hospital.
“This is wonderful news” said Urquhart. “We’ve needed more dialysis locally for some time and what’s really great about the announcement today is that patients will be able to learn how to use the machines right here so a trip to Kingston for training won’t have to happen anymore. While we would’ve preferred a unit at TMH this is fine. People from Quinte West travel to Belleville for doctor’s appointments and other things all the time anyway.”
OurTMH’s Mike Cowan welcomed the news. “It takes people off of the 401. That’s the big win here. It’s about the travelling and making people’s lives better by being able to be cared for closer to home. However OurTMH isn’t resting. We’ll keep trying to make health care better and improve facilities and services at Trenton Memorial.”
April is Be a Donor Month and speakers stressed the importance of allowing organs to be donated.
Since 2017, 27 Quinte region residents have received kidney transplants, a procedure that dramatically improves a patient’s life.
