DIALYSIS patients in Radnorshire will no longer have to travel miles to receive their treatment, following the official opening of a new state-of-the-art unit in Llandrindod Wells.
Health Minister, Lesley Griffiths met dialysis patients at Llandrindod’s Memorial Hospital on Wednesday (August 1) during the official opening of the four-station unit, which has been in operation since March.
Before the unit opened, renal patients in south Powys had to travel as far as Birmingham, travelling up to two hours each way, three times a week.
The unit provides four stations at the hospital and can treat up to 16 patients a week.
Ms Griffiths AM said at the opening ceremony: “The patients who are on dialysis, their quality of life is not fantastic. It is very important we see these units not only being opened but refurbished, as well as collaborations with local doctors.”
The Health Minister’s visit was part of a wider effort by Powys teaching Health Board and the Welsh Government to showcase their work in the community, outside of traditional hospital care.
The Minister also received a progress report on the £4.9m health facility in Builth Wells, due to open in December and which will replace Builth Community Hospital.
County Councillor Rosemarie Harris, cabinet member for adult services, told the County Times: “It’s good to have got to this stage, there have been some difficulties. But it is a very exciting project, the only project of its kind ever attempted in Wales, and this is a progress report.
“We have had £5m from Welsh Government and we are working well together, along with local doctors and the third sector.”