Nurses dialysis unit reduces travel time

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

But thanks to a collaborative initiative between City Hospitals Sunderland and the UHND a new "satellite" dialysis unit is now treating patients nearer their homes.

The unit, based in refurbished accommodation, is also the first where 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 10 renal dialysis stations, can take care of 28 patients, who come for 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. It is taking the care nearer to the patients."

He praised new 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 middleman 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 old Dryburn Hospital it is actually managed by the Sunderland trust.

"It is a major boost to the thousands of patients in the area who need life-saving dialysis, particuarly those in the Durham area. The link-up between the two hospitals expands the services to local people an dis one of the biggest investments in renal provision since the opening of the new unit at Sunderland Royal in 1994," said Mr Crosbie.

There is a particular emphasis at the new unit on educating patients to make decisions about their treatment plan.