16 July 2009
Patients and staff broke open the fizzy apple juice recently to celebrate 40 years of the award winning South West Thames Renal and Transplantation unit, which is based at St Helier Hospital.
Dr James Marsh, who is currently in charge of the unit, said: "We have made incredible progress over the last 40 years, which have also seen massive expansion in the service and huge advances in medical technology. People suffering renal (kidney) failure need dialysis on a regular basis to keep their blood clean as their kidneys can no longer filter the blood properly.
"When the unit opened in 1969, dialysis patients would have to have sessions lasting up to 18 hours a day three times a week. Today, a typical session is four hours. Sometimes patients would have to stay on the unit for months after having a transplant. Now, because of advances in medicines, the average recovery time is just four to five days."
One patient who has benefitted from the team's expertise, dedication and professionalism is Margaret Simpson. Margaret was diagnosed with renal failure in 1991 and had a transplant in 1992. She said: "I just knew I'd landed in the right place. I will always be eternally grateful to the doctors who treated me, and the rest of the team, for the confidence they gave me.
"I had a chronic condition, and I was very unwell. But the people on the unit gave me hope – they made me think about the future. I hadn't done that for a long time.
"Kidney failure can have a great effect on family, on loved ones, and on friends. Every member of staff at the unit, from the receptionists to the consultants, understands that and embodies kindness, compassion and warmth."
Peter Simpson, Margaret's husband, added: "I'm so glad Margaret was referred to this unit, I can't even tell you. As far as I'm concerned it's the best renal unit in the country, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart."
The unit, which started off with just two dialysis patients and now has over 800, has also carried over 550 successful transplants in partnership with St George's Hospital, Tooting.
The team are now at the cutting-edge of pioneering treatment which allows patients to dialyse themselves at home.
