Kidney Treatment Unit For Hospital

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31866, 19 December 1968, Page 6

Kidney Treatment Unit For Hospital

An artificial kidney unit for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney failure is tp be set up in the present visitors’ waiting hall at Christchurch Hospital early next year.

Dr L. M. Berry, the North Canterbury Hospital Board’s medical superintendent in chief, told the board yesterday that the question of providing for patients to treat themselves at home was still under discussion. Dr P. J. Little, the board’s renal physician, had been amazed at the extent to which

this was being done in the United States, and had recommended that the board work towards a similar programme. Dr Berry said the home treatment units were a sort of “do it yourself kit.” The machines would cost $3OOO each, but this would amount to less than the capital cost of providing a large renal dialysis unit at the hospital. Dr L. C. L. Averill, the board's chairman, said the artificial kidney units were of vital importance because they I would save lives. It was felt that the visitors’) waiting hall was the best location for the unit. With the hospital’s staggered visiting hours the hall was not being used much, and it would be possible for visitors to visit the hospital through the main entrance and proceed straight to the wards. Dr Berry said tjiat when

the waiting hall was converted to a renal dialysis unit there would no longer be a creche for children, but if it was found that one was still needed there were two alternative sites for it.