ALBERTON, P.E.I. - Renovations to bring improvements to the hemodialysis unit at Western Hospital in Alberton could begin by the end of summer.
On Thursday, Health and Wellness Minister Robert Mitchell said his government is investing $500,000 through its capital budget to provide Islanders, dealing with chronic kidney disease, with a better equipped, more spacious hemodialysis unit within Western Hospital.
The planning process for the renovations is getting underway this week.
“When patients must spend hours on dialysis treatment several times per week, it’s important to be able to offer that treatment in a safe, comfortable environment, with modern technologies,” said the minister.
A key component of the project is replacing the existing water filtration with a new system that will improve the quality of water used in the filtration of waste from a patient’s blood stream.
Additionally, the renovations are intended to improve the patient care environment and experience, giving patients more space and privacy.
Mitchell said the enhancements “will ensure that Islanders in western P.E.I. with kidney disease are receiving the quality care they need, where they need it.”
Similar to work done at Queen Elizabeth and Prince County hospitals in 2012 and Souris hospital in 2015, the project will also allow for future expansion of dialysis services at Western, if needed.
Western Hospital’s renovations will create a new palliative care space in the acute care area, allowing for a more therapeutic environment for end-of-life care. The entire project should be finished by early 2019.
There are currently eight patients who receive treatment at the Western Hospital dialysis unit. Seven clients are receiving treatment in Souris, 27 at Prince County Hospital and 62 in Charlottetown.
