No quick fix

Patients requiring dialysis won't be getting treatment locally anytime in the next year.

In a recent Wabush town meeting, Coun. Cheryl Hardy said while she is happy government decided to allocate $672,800 to a satellite dialysis unit, she feels the announcement was misleading since the service won't be available for another 18 to 24 months.

Too good to be true

"In my experience if it sounds to good to be true, it is," she said in a separate interview with the Aurora. "When I saw the announcement in the budget, what raised a red flag for me was that people were going to think we're getting our dialysis machine and it's going to be this year because it's being budgeted this year."

Since she was a part of the local dialysis committee, Hardy explained she received a lot of information about dialysis and what is needed to set it up from various doctors and executives throughout the province.

Doctors didn't recommend dialysis

During meetings last year, she said doctors who administered dialysis in St. John's didn't recommend the service for Labrador West because there weren't four patients who needed it and they thought there would be challenges in getting the necessary staff to move to Labrador to administer dialysis.

At that time, Hardy said there were also some concerns identified about finding the necessary space for the unit in the current hospital, as well as the special water system required to run it, and although Labrador-Grenfell Health ultimately decided to support the committee's proposal for dialysis, she was under the impression the system would be set up in the new facility.

Coming to current facility

However, according to Ozette Simpson, chief operating officer of Labrador-Grenfell Health West, dialysis will be available at Captain William Jackman Memorial Hospital in the in-patient services unit.

Coun. Cheryl Hardy said she thinks residents are going to be disappointed when they realize how long it's going to take to get dialysis up and running in Labrador West, and she questions if Labrador-Grenfell Health will be able to make it's two-year deadline for the project. Pam Morrissey photo

"Work is scheduled to begin soon," she stressed. "In fact the regional director of support services will be coming over on May 4 to have a look at the space we identified."

Lots of work required

She said a lot of work needs to be done to ensure the dialysis unit works properly.

In addition to recruiting staff, Simpson said the hospital needs to develop linkages with the provincial dialysis team in St. John's; form an internal committee to determine what the issues and challenges could be with running the unit; and work in collaboration with partners in St. John's to ensure staff has the necessary training.

"For now, we're thinking we'll train four staff - two RNs (registered nurses) and two LPNs (licensed practical nurses)," she said. "The specialized training will take place in St. John's for six to eight weeks and we need a range of equipment, we need the area renovated, we need a client waiting area, we need space for the dialysis machines and we need special dialysis chairs, water filtration systems, IMT and Telehealth equipment, storage areas, washing areas, nursing stations and infection control is very important, so we have to take that under consideration in the construction phase as well."

Could take up to two years

If all goes well, Simpson said the renovations could be complete by October, but Labrador-Grenfell Health expects it will take 18 to 24 months to develop the site.

She stressed the dialysis unit has to be set up properly, but the health authority will do the work as quickly as possible.

"We're really excited about having this unit to provide care to the clients in the community that needs it," she said. "This type of unit is administered by a parent unit in St. John's and it will provide care to medically stable patients closer to their home. This unit will allow people from this area to maintain their quality of life."

One client eligible

Right now, Simpson noted LGH records show one client has left the area for hemodialysis treatment - which the satellite unit will be able to provide - and there are two clients receiving treatment at home.

She said if the condition of those clients change, and a nephrologist - kidney disease specialist - determines satellite dialysis is a good option, they could take advantage of the new site as well.

"Rest assured, we will be providing the best quality of care for our clients," she stated. "We are working as hard as we can and as fast as we can to get it up and running."

Councillor questions timeline

Coun. Hardy said she would love for the dialysis unit to be opened in the hospital sometime in the next two years, however, she wonders if it's really possible considering all the work that has to be done.

She stressed setting up the unit in the old hospital is the right decision, but she's surprised government is choosing to put it in the current facility when it's going to have to move it to the new hospital in 2014.

Give credit to Baker

If it does happen, Hardy said Labrador West MHA Jim Baker deserves the credit.

"It's a major undertaking and all of a sudden government is putting the monies there for it," she said. "I feel like when they looked at their budget, they realized they hadn't included Labrador West and they wondered what bone they could throw us. It was the wrong bone, but it's a service we need and I hope it is set up as soon as possible."