Hospital expands its dialysis unit
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
The Cayman Islands Hospital has expanded its dialysis service, by
significantly increasing the operating hours of the clinic to allow more
dialysis patients to get life-saving treatment.
With the increased operating hours the Hospital’s Dialysis Unit will now be
open six days weekly. The new operating hours are: 7:30 am – 6 pm, Monday,
Wednesday & Friday; 7:30 am – 1:30 pm Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Acting Medical Director of the Health Services Authority, Dr Courtney
Cummings said: “the increased service comes at a time when renal disease is
increasing in the Cayman Islands.
“The number of people on dialysis has been growing by 10 percent each year
for the past four years, and this growth rate is expected to continue if people
with various conditions such as hypertension and diabetes fail to properly
manage their health condition.”
The direct result is an increase in the number of dialysis patients from a
total of 18 patients in the mid-Nineties to 28 at year end, 2003.
According to Dr Cummings, “while prevention is a major thrust of the HSA’s
efforts in combating diabetes and hypertension thereby reducing the number of
patients on dialysis, the organisation is committed to evaluating patient needs
to ensure that it responds to the demands on the service.”
George Smith, a dialysis patient for the past six years, welcomed the news of
the expanded dialysis service.
“It is a good idea and long-awaited as it gives the patient greater
flexibility and convenience in scheduling their treatment,” said Mr Smith.
Nurse Manager for the Dialysis Unit Jo-Anne Taylor said: “the extended
operating hours clearly enhances our ability to care for our patients and will
bring a wonderful improvement to the quality of life for dialysis patients.”
Dialysis is necessary to keep patients with end stage renal disease alive.
“End stage renal disease is a condition in which all, or almost all, kidney
function has disappeared. The dialysis takes the place of the kidneys, cleaning
toxic substances and excess water from the blood.”
The Cayman Island’s Hospital’s Dialysis Unit offers patients treatment for
kidney failure using the most advanced methods. The unit currently has 10
dialysis stations and can treat up to 20 patients each day.
The purpose-built Dialysis Unit serves local outpatients and inpatients,
visitors and in-transit cruise ship passengers.
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