By Jennifer Vardy Little
The Kings County Advertiser
A provincial announcement in Kentville Nov. 28 will provide dialysis patients with treatment closer to home.
Kings North MLA Jim Morton announced a new, 12-chair satellite dialysis treatment facility will be built in Kentville.
The facility will service people from Annapolis Royal to Windsor. It will be built on-site at Valley Regional Hospital to ensure quick and easy access to emergency and lab services.
Richard Cameron has been receiving dialysis in Berwick since August, three times a week, after losing his transplant of six and a half years. Before that, he received dialysis treatment for five and a half years.
"Before my transplant I was on dialysis for five and a half years, some of that time spent traveling to Halifax for treatment," said Cameron. "Until we were able to get a spot closer to home, my spouse and I thought we may have to sell our house and move to the city to continue treatment. Expansion of dialysis in the region will mean less travel, fewer expenses, and will give my spouse and I more freedom and a better quality of life."
The new satellite unit will be operated under the collaborative care model with Annapolis Valley Health and Capital Health working together to deliver the service. The project is currently in the design phase; a new facility, connected to Valley Regional Hospital, will be constructed to house the new facility. It's expected that it will take two years to put the facility in place.
For more, see the Dec. 4 edition of The Advertiser.
