New centre will spell end to long journeys for kidney treatment

Mearns residents waiting for kidney treatment will soon be able to avoid long journeys north for dialysis.

A sod-cutting ceremony was held at the renal dialysis centre at Stonehaven’s Kincardine Community Hospital.

It marked the culmination of five years of fundraising from the community, led by the Rotary club, which managed to raise more than £1 million to turn the dream into a reality.

Those living south of the city have to travel to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment, putting further strain on exhausted patients.

A survey carried out by NHS Grampian revealed between 35 and 40% of those kidney unit patients journey from as far south as Laurencekirk.

Dialysis must take place for three days every week and can last anything between two and five hours.

This means that patients’ treatment can often take up to an entire day once travel is taken into account, which often has an additional negative impact on their health.

Dr Ann Humphrey, who recently retired from her role as associate dialysis specialist, has spent five years spearheading the fundraising campaign. She said: “It’s a huge day. “I’m so pleased for the patients.

“I’ve seen how much a toll it takes on them currently.”

As well as the cash contributed by the community campaign, the health board will contribute about £545,000 to the project.

The unit, designed to help people from as far south as St Cyrus and west to Banchory, will be able to treat 24 patients a week if operating on a fulltime basis.

It is expected to open in the spring.