The new $3 million Ōhane Dialysis Unit at Tauranga Hospital has doubled the number of dialysis chairs previously available.
The unit, which took about nine months to build, was given a ceremonial blessing on Friday before opening its doors to patients yesterday, a statement from Te Whatu Ora Hauora aToi Bay of Plenty said.
Te Whatu Ora Hauora a Toi clinical nurse manager - renal, Katie Johanson, said it represented a step forward in renal care for the Bay of Plenty.
“We’re doubling the number of dialysis chairs available, going from seven to 14.
“That means we can care for up to 56 patients a week when we’re fully operational. And it means we can dialyse more people closer to their home, so there’s less travelling for them.
“Our goal is to make the new unit as accessible, welcoming and patient-centred as possible. It’s a huge burden on a patient’s life to go on dialysis three times a week, and we want to make that as positive an experience as possible,” Johanson said.
“We’ve also got a goal with the new building to help patients become more independent.
“There’s more space, so we’ll have more time with them, and they’ll have their own kitchenette area, so they can make it more homely and more welcoming for their whānau.”
One of their patients, Bill Nepia, had gifted the name of the building, the Ōhane Dialysis Unit, which “made it even more special”, Johanson said.
Te Whatu Ora Hauora a Toi clinical nurse manager - renal Katie Johanson (left) and haemodialysis patient Geri Stantiall at the opening of the Ōhane Dialysis Unit.
Geraldine “Geri” Stantiall, who has been on haemodialysis for seven years following Type 2 diabetes complications which led to kidney failure, said the unit would be good for staff as well as patients.
“All the patients are really looking forward to moving in. It’ll be lovely to be in surroundings which are more modern and comfortable.
“It’ll be nice for the nurses and doctors here as well. They are amazing, they always try to work things out for us, and we discuss our care with them. They’re very compassionate people.”
Stantiall has three five-hour ‘shifts’ each week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Tauranga mother-of-two said one of the hardest parts of being on dialysis was when fellow patients died.
“You spend so long in here together that you form a bond. I love all the patients that come here, and sadly, we’ve lost three people in the last three weeks,” she said.
Looking to the future, Stantiall said more needed to be done to prevent the need for dialysis units.
“Prevention is better than cure, so it’s about stopping people getting to this point. If you educate people with pre-diabetes and diabetes, you can avoid the need for dialysis. Type 2 diabetes is about diet control.
“Educating young people in the community about their diet is where it all needs to start.”
