THE first kidney dialysis unit in the UK to be run by nurses rather than consultants has slashed travel time for North-East patients.

Until the unit opened at the University Hospital of North Durham, patients in the area needing kidney dialysis had to travel to Sunderland, Middlesbrough or Newcastle.

Thanks to a collaborative initiative between City Hospitals Sunderland and the University Hospital of North Durham, a satellite dialysis unit is treating patients nearer their homes.

The unit, based in refurbished accommodation, is also the first in which patient care is supervised by nurses, who have the power to admit patients or refer them to a specialist.

This speeds up the process of referral and reduces delays. So far the unit, which has ten renal dialysis stations, can take care of 28 patients receiving dialysis three times a week. By next April, another two stations will open, allowing the unit to treat up to 48 patients.

Brian Crosbie, nurse consultant at the unit, said: "Some patients have cut their journeys down from 45 minutes to five minutes, which makes a big difference to their lives."

He praised flexible arrangements which have modernised the care of patients.

"You used to have to refer patients to the medical staff, who would then refer them to see a specialist. We have cut out the middle-man and that is working very well," said Mr Crosbie, who leads the City Hospitals team based at the Durham site.

While the unit is based in the last surviving section of the former Dryburn Hospital, it is managed by the Sunderland trust.

"It is a major boost to the thousands of patients in the area who need life-saving dialysis, particularly those in the Durham area," said Mr Crosbie.

"The link-up between the two hospitals expands the services to local people and is one of the biggest investments in renal provision since the opening of the new unit at Sunderland Royal in 1994."

There is emphasis at the unit on informing patients to make decisions about their treatment plans.