Welsh renal dialysis centre revamp plan resurrected
Government agrees to provide funding on shelved project
Shelved plans for a new renal dialysis unit in Wales have been resurrected after the Government agreed to fund the £7.5m scheme.
Plans for the 21-station unit at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest were first approved last year, but the Renal Network UK later announced it was pulling out of the venture citing the high cost of altering the roads and car parking on the site.
But this week the Welsh Assembly Government announced a £7.5m grant to get the scheme back off the ground.
The existing unit operates in a temporary building and has just six stations. Once revamped, it will provide services for patients from across West Wales, saving them from having to travel long distances to other centres.
Health Minister, Lesley Griffiths, said: “I am delighted to announce this funding. The number of patients relying on dialysis continues to increase and this unit will be ideally placed to accommodate the growth in demand.
“At a time of such perceived uncertainty, this demonstrates the Government is committed to improving services in Wales to make them safe and sustainable for now and into the future.”
Building work will start on site in August and the facility is due for completion in early 2014.
