New £3 million ‘jewel in the crown’ for Epsom and St Helier as Renal Unit opens!
A brand new Renal Dialysis Unit has opened its doors to patients at St Helier Hospital for the first time, following a £3 million project to completely redesign and rebuild the unit.
Featuring state of the art equipment and 28 haemodialysis stations (complete with individual flat screen TVs so patients can keep entertained while receiving care), the new unit is bigger and brighter than ever before, and with a number of individual dialysis rooms, will help to improve infection prevention and control standards. The new unit also offers greater accessibility (with its own entrance at the front of the hospital) and comfort to the thousands of patients who need dialysis multiple times a week for hours at a time.
Chief Executive, Daniel Elkeles, said: “We are thrilled to have opened this fantastic new facility for our patients. It has taken a huge amount of work from our Renal Dialysis and Estates and Facilities teams, but just one look around the new department and it is evident that the hard work was more than worth it. From the moment the doors opened last week, it was clear that our patients and staff were delighted with the new department. We have a lot to be proud of at Epsom and St Helier, but our new Renal Unit is certainly one of the jewels in the crown!.”
Head of Nursing for Renal Services, Susie Mallinder, said: “We are delighted with the new unit – it is a wonderful environment that is light, bright and boasts the very latest technology. Receiving haemodialysis can have a huge impact on a patient’s life, as most people need lengthy dialysis sessions three times a week, which is why it is so important for us to make the environment as comfortable as possible.
Dr David Makanjuola, Consultant nephrologist and Joint Lead for Haemodialysis, said: “It is great to see this come to fruition; the new unit provides greater space, improving patient experience and enabling us to care for more patients. It will boost morale, not just of patients, but also of staff – it’s been well worth the wait.”
Patient Giovanna Diliberto said: “I think it is wonderful, I am here three times a week for three hours at a time, it is now so bright and comfortable”.
The Trust’s Renal Department is one of the largest in the UK (and the largest unit that does not undertake transplants), offering a wide range of services to people with kidney conditions. For more information, visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/renal or call 020 8296 2507.
