Renal Day Unit
Awarded a grant of €35,000 since 2004
Up until March 2004 the Peritoneal Dialysis Unit operated out of one very small room at the back of the Haemodialysis Unit. This small area catered for weekly out-patient clinics together with walk-in patients, limited storage space, patient training, staff office and sluice area. The patient waiting area was inside the Haemodialysis Unit and, coupled with environmental noise and traffic (movement of dialysis machines in and out of the Unit) conditions were very uncomfortable for patients and the management/provision of the Peritoneal Dialysis service was very challenging.
Through funding provided by the Mater Hospital Foundation, The Irish Kidney Foundation and Roche Pharmaceuticals, a new Unit was officially opened in July 2005.
The new premises for Peritoneal Dialysis (Renal Day Unit) enables us to provide a better renal service for our patients. The two treatment rooms enable staff to review two patients simultaneously, which is especially beneficial in the out-patient clinic and also facilitates staff in providing peritoneal dialysis training as an out-patient service to suitable patients, thus decreasing the demand for hospital admissions.
Office space for the Renal CNS enables the review and education of pre-dialysis patients and post-transplant follow-up. In addition, the examination room is utilised as an extra room for reviewing patients and also for dietetic review.
As the Unit is away from the main hospital and the waiting area is more appropriate, visiting the Unit is an enjoyable experience for patients, thus decreasing the number of patients who do not show for clinics.
