Calls for new Dialysis Unit for Sligo University Hospital

THE renal dialysis unit at Sligo University Hospital, originally intended to cater for 30 patients is now catering for more than double that figure so much so that a new unit is badly needed, Cllr Tom MacSharry said at the recent meeting of Sligo County Council.

Cllr MacSharry said it was well known that the Sligo dialysis unit was one of the oldest in the country adding that a new unit was urgently and badly needed.

He said he was raising the issue on behalf of his party colleague Edel Mac Sharry who is seeking election in the forthcoming local elections.

Noting that the unit was originally built to take care of 30 patients it is now taking care of 70 patients, he said.

He said Health Minister Stephen Donnelly on a recent visit to Sligo had described the project as at “feasibility stage” and when this was completed it would move to “full capital” project stage, a move he said was due to happen in quarter three of 2023, but he said this had not happened.

He called on the Ministers for Health and Finance to “ring fence” this project to ensure it is advanced “as a matter of urgency”.

Cllr Dónal Gilroy, seconding the motion recalled in 2019 there were maintenance issues with the unit which were addressed. He said he would raise the need for the unit to be developed at the next meeting of the Regional Health Forum West.

Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady welcomed the new-found interest in the unit of which she was one of the founding members when the unit was first introduced. She recalled more than €100,000 being raised locally to fund the unit which started with ten beds and was a huge addition to the people of this area.

Having worked in the renal dialysis unit in Jervis Street Hospital she said she was well aware at that time how people had to “cross the country” three days every week to get dialysis, go home for a day of rest and return again for three more days which was “horrific” for those who had to use the service.

“Now might be a good time to raise funding again to help the new unit on its way,” she said.

She added: “It has been over the years highlighted at different levels, but I am heartened to see it is here on our agenda.”

Cllr Arthur Gibbons, supporting the motion, praised Cllr O’Grady who did more than just raise the issue at meetings. He recalled her fundraising efforts suggesting “no one in this chamber can take more credit than you for that unit becoming a reality.”

Cllr Thomas Walsh said like many other items in terms of the hospital’s health infrastructure, a new unit is badly needed. He too agreed that Cllr O’Grady deserved great credit for her efforts on having the unit established.

Cllr MacSharry said he welcomed the support and hoped the provision of a new unit would be to the forefront.