Ulverston’s community came together to commemorate the official opening of the state-of-the-art Furness Renal Centre in Sandside Road, on Thursday 16 September 2021. The new renal centre, which has been operational since July, was officially opened by Simon Fell, Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness, with the cutting of the ribbon.
The Renal Centre is run and staffed by Diaverum, in partnership with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, bringing life-enhancing renal care to local patients.Furness Renal Centre is open six days a week and accommodates outpatient & pre-dialysis facilities for new patients. Patients will be able to see a range of specialists and an on-site multidisciplinary team , enabling them start treatment in centre, without travelling to the main Hospital.
The clinic inauguration ceremony witnessed a good turnout of guests including patients, members of parliament, the local council, representatives from the Rotary International Club as well as our partners from the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Deputy Chief Executive, Jonathan Wood, said that: “For those living with kidney disease – and their loved ones – we know that the challenge of this lifelong illness is often made much harder by the travelling involved. So we are truly delighted to bring care closer to home for patients in south west Cumbria.
“This has been achieved in partnership with Diaverum, and this building is the first of three new renal centres for our service.
“Before this centre opened, patients had to travel to Kendal – meaning that only 65% of patients were meeting the national travel target time of 30 minutes or less to dialysis. This figure is now much closer to 95% and we are proud of that. going forward, we expect to deliver specialist clinics here, all in keeping with out desire to bring care closer to home.”
Mick Hartnett, Managing Director of Diaverum UK added: “Diaverum are delighted to work with our colleagues at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust to bring local dialysis service to Ulverston.
“The Renal Services team put a lot of care into the tender specification to make it patient-centred and we wanted to be part of the project. So, we were chuffed when we were chosen and awarded the contract. We have enjoyed working with the Trust through the process, and their project management has been fair and professional.”
“My heartfelt thanks go to the Diaverum team, who worked tirelessly to make this happen in the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am very confident that the Clinic Manager, Karen Harris and her team will provide very good service to our patients.”
Mr Fell said: “When I was elected in 2019, one of my first surgery appointments was with Anne Aspinall, who explained what Jack had to go through every time he went for dialysis – a long journey to Kendal, lots of waiting around, tying up an ambulance’s time, and uncertainty about journey times.
“I looked into the issue and was delighted to find out that the new centre in Ulverston was already on the cards, and was deep into the planning phase at that point.
“It's amazing now to stand in this building where people are getting treatment not far from their homes without those difficult journeys, and with health outcomes going through the roof as a result. It’s a fantastic local resource that’s serving the community and the patients who need it well.”
Clinic Manager, Karen Harris confirmed that “patients are already enjoying the modern and spacious new renal centre, and making use of their individual TVs and free Wi-Fi. There is on-site parking and free Wi-Fi for patients while they receive treatment.
“We have fantastic facilities for staff - a spacious and modern staff room, showers, toilets and lockers.
“It is a lovely and calm atmosphere in the unit, patients and staff like it here. Thanks to everyone involved in creating this amazing facility”.