Renal patients being turned away from dialysis unit

Renal patients who need treatment are being turned away from the busiest dialysis unit in the State, according to the Irish Kidney Association.

The association has described the situation at the Limerick dialysis unit in the Midwest Regional Hospital as "appalling" and has blamed the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The association says new patients are being dispersed to other units in Tullamore, Kilkenny, Tralee and Galway, often necessitating long journeys.

Currently the unit in Limerick, which has 11 stations, treats 99 patients and works around the clock four days a week.

Mark Murphy, the chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association, said the situation had arisen because of a lack of foresight on the part of the HSE.

"The overcrowding in Limerick has been well documented and reported for years. This inevitable situation has been highlighted many times to the HSE," he said.

"The HSE's delay in making decisions has consistently prolonged the plight of individuals by forcing them into long journeys for essential life-saving treatment. Simple planning of services would eradicate this expensive, arduous travelling for patients."

The Irish Kidney Association said tendering for dialysis services from the commercial sector could take up to 18 months to implement.

It has proposed that the mobile dialysis unit in Tullamore should be moved to Limerick when a new hospital dialysis centre there is fully commissioned in July.

The association has also called for the publication of the National Renal Review Strategy Report.

Management at the Mid Western Regional Hospital said last night it would be happy to meet the association to improve access to dialysis at the hospital.