Expansion of dialysis services at Cromer given the go-ahead

Kidney dialysis patients in North Norfolk will soon be able to receive treatment more locally, as proposals to expand the number of dialysis stations in Cromer were approved by the East of England Specialised Commissioning Group (SCG).

Feedback received during a consultation in early 2010 on the location for extra stations revealed that people and local patients groups felt that expanding services in the existing unit in Cromer would be a more suitable location.

NHS Norfolk also believed that Cromer would be a more suitable location as there is due to be a new hospital there by 2012.

Patients in the area will also benefit from more investment in „home therapies‟ giving them the opportunity to treat themselves at home with specially-designed equipment where clinically suitable.

Fiona Loud, patient representative and chair of the Kidney Alliance said: “I welcome the fact that the SCG was able to talk to people concerned with kidney dialysis, and that many responded to the consultation. Their views have been taken into consideration as part of the Board‟s decision making process. The provision of new units will benefit kidney patients.”

Dr Alex Heaton, Consultant Nephrologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: “The East of England SCG Board has listened carefully to what people had to say and has taken into account those views to ensure that future service provision will meet the need of patients and their families.

“We now have an opportunity to expand renal dialysis services in a way which makes them more accessible to the people who need them now and in the future.”