Renal unit with a view
Published at: 20 Jun 2018
Redevelopment work will soon begin on GV Health's new, 16 chair dialysis unit.
The state of the art facility will allow the unit to treat 96 patients, and will include a home training area – previously only accessible in metropolitan hospitals – meaning that staff will be able to train patients to dialyse at home and keep their treatment local.
The new unit will be situated in the carpark space near the Glasshouse Café, giving patients, many of whom are debilitated and need better access to disabled parking.
"The whole idea of going into the new location is that it's closer to services," said Nurse Unit Manager Natalie Sheehan. "Those podiatry services will be available within the unit, so patients won't feel like they're attending a hospital."
Sandy Chamberlin, GV Health's Executive Director of Infrastructure, points out that the new facility will double the hospital's treatment offering and also provide patients with a more comfortable, modern facility.
"The new renal dialysis building will reinvent the service for the Goulburn Valley region," said Ms Chamberlin. "We have a lot of patients receiving dialysis 24 hours a day, in three shifts and on a long waiting list. This facility will provide a better outlook for patients and a better experience generally."
Ms Sheehan could not be more delighted with the thought and planning that has gone into the new facility.
"We needed an area that was very accessible, with an open plan design," she said. "There's a lot of natural light, with a view of gardens and trees, but also with privacy of course."
There is an increasing high demand for dialysis services in the region.
"At the moment we're starting one new patient every month," said Ms Sheehan.
"This creates issues with being able to provide treatment locally. "To provide treatment to local people locally is really what our whole motto is."
Ms Chamberlin is thrilled with the benefits the new unit will provide.
"It's so exciting to be able to build new facilities for such passionate health care professionals," she said.
There's one other critical benefit of the unit's relocation on Ms Sheehan's mind. "It's close to coffee, which is very important!" she laughs.