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Feb 27 - Charity Welcomes Extension Of Dialysis Opening Times

The Gibraltar Dialysis Patients and Friends Association says it welcomes the announcement made by the Government of Gibraltar in connection with the extension of opening times of the Douglas Ferro Dialysis Unit to deliver Haemodialysis treatment to patients from three days a week to six day a week.

The number of patients on Haemodialysis in Gibraltar has grown radically since the opening of the Dialysis Unit almost 13 years ago. The charity notes that the number of patients on dialysis has “increased alarmingly” from 7 to almost 30 during this period.

In addition, the charity says it is aware of patients that are being prepared for dialysis and therefore the recruitment of more specialist dialysis trained staff is a “forward-thinking step” taken by the GHA which it wholeheartedly supports.

A statement continued: “The expansion of the service is of assistance to all patients as all current patients attend several times a week. In the past, patients have had to coordinate their daily lives around their treatment and as a result have had to miss various family events such as baptisms and weddings due to Haemodialysis taking place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“The extension of opening times, coupled with the expansion of the unit in order to increase the number of patients that can receive Haemodialysis at a given time, has been on the Charity’s agenda for the past two years as it has seen the upsurge of patients on dialysis. Notwithstanding, the Charity calls on the GHA to start planning for the future to deal with the increased demands by considering the next steps in the expansion of the Dialysis Unit.

“The Charity also commends the nursing staff, led by Marta Morales, who have been truly exceptional in delivering the service throughout this period. It is noted that the nursing team go the extra mile to ensure that the patients come first.”

Sunil Chandiramani, the President of the Charity said the following regarding the increased opening times: “Given the increasing number of patients on dialysis, I am of the opinion that the additional slots that the extended hours offer will benefit the patients. Patients will now have increased flexibility around their daily lives and will have a positive knock on effect on their family and friends. Having been on dialysis myself, it is fundamental that the effect that dialysis has on daily life be minimised as possible. The feedback that we have received from the patients has been wholly positive and therefore the Charity would like to thank the Minister, Dr Lines, Senior Nurse Marta Morales and the rest of the team for delivering the change that has been called upon by the Charity in the last two years.”



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