Province Investing More Than $20 Million In Renal Health, Dialysis Services In Winnipeg, Rural, Northern Manitoba
November 27, 2007
Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today the province is investing more than $20 million in funding to expand renal health services including dialysis and prevention education across the province.
“This major investment will expand our renal health and dialysis services not only in Winnipeg, but also in rural and northern Manitoba,” said Oswald. “This will help ensure Manitobans living with chronic kidney disease will have access to renal health services and potential life-saving treatment in their home communities.”Today’s announcement includes funding to expand dialysis services by:
· developing 10 new stations at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg to accommodate an additional 60 patients a year,
· creating a new six-station unit in Russell,
· developing a new six-station unit in the Percy E. Moore Hospital at Peguis First Nation to serve patients from Peguis and Hodgson,
· expanding a two-station unit to a four-station unit at Norway House, and
· creating a new two-station unit at Berens River.
Included in this $20 million of funding is the previously-announced $1.5 million dedicated in September to creating a new four-station unit in Gimli.
Dan Skwarchuk, program director of the Manitoba Renal Program said expanding the program into more rural communities will increase the program’s capacity outside Winnipeg by 72 patients.
“It will mean up to 30 patients who regularly drive outside of their community for treatment may now be able to receive it in their own community. This is also great news for patients from Berens River who will soon be able to receive treatment in their home community. Patients have had to move to Winnipeg for their treatment but, thanks to these new units, they will now able to return home and get the treatment and the care they need.”
Dr. Brock Wright, chief medical officer of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and chief operating officer of the Health Sciences Centre (HSC), said the addition of 10 stations at HSC means the hospital will be able to accommodate the needs of future patients.
“There is important work being done in the area of prevention and promotion, however, we know that the need for dialysis continues to grow and we will continue to work diligently to meet those future needs.”
The minister added that today’s announcement will be further enhanced with a prevention and education component that will be revealed at a later date.
She also noted that today’s commitment builds on previous investments since 1999 and follows the strategy of delivering services based on specific needs of communities and providing quality care closer to home.
Previous investments in renal health include new dialysis units in Norway House (2000), Garden Hill (2004), Swan River (2006) and Gimli (2007).
The Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative, launched in October 2005, supports community-led, evidence-based projects designed to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and other chronic diseases.
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