March 18, 2019
Province Expanding Dialysis Services, Hiring More Nurses to Support Patients
– – –New Investment will Provide Life-saving Care for Manitobans in Need: Pallister
THOMPSON—The province is investing nearly $5.2 million for dialysis services, including $2.4 million from Budget 2019, to provide critical life-saving services for up to 72 patients while hiring more nurses and other staff to support access for more patients, Premier Brian Pallister announced today.
“We are cleaning up the mess left behind by the previous government in health care by investing in services that benefit Manitobans,” said Pallister. “These investments will provide life-saving care to Manitobans in need, when and where they need it most. This includes Thompson, which will see in-centre dialysis expand to accommodate an additional six patients.”
About 14 per cent of Manitobans live with kidney disease and about one-third of them may develop kidney failure in their lifetime. Over the coming months, the expansion will include additional dialysis spaces at local renal health centres throughout the province. In addition to Thompson, this investment includes:
- an eight-patient expansion in Hodgson;
- a six-patient expansion in Pine Falls;
- a six-patient expansion in Portage la Prairie;
- a six-patient expansion at Boundary Trails Health Centre; and
- a 30-patient expansion in Winnipeg.
“Our mission is to deliver accessible health services to the residents of the north and this announcement helps us to achieve that for dialysis patients,” said Helga Bryant, CEO, Northern Regional Health Authority. “This investment in our region will have a life-altering impact on all of the patients it will serve and their families.”
The funding will also be used to expand home dialysis treatments, including a 10-patient peritoneal dialysis expansion in Winnipeg, to ensure a better quality of life for patients.
There will be 57 positions included in this expansion, including nearly 30 nurses. Health care aides, pharmacy, social services, technologists, maintenance and administrative support positions will also be added.
“Manitoba’s rates of kidney failure continue to rise,” said Dr. Mauro Verrelli, medical director of the Manitoba Renal Program. “This addition of funding allows these local renal health centres to utilize existing infrastructure to meet a growing need for dialysis treatment across Manitoba. When possible, we want Manitobans to receive this vital treatment at home or as close to home as possible.”
Hemodialysis uses a machine to remove blood from the body, clean it, then return it to the body. Peritoneal dialysis cycles a solution into and out of the stomach through a tube to collect and get rid of waste and fluid.
The premier noted the investment builds on recent service expansions in Brandon and Winnipeg. In Brandon, the province announced late last year that an additional $500,000 would be invested annually to expand the home peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis programs.
The province is also constructing a 22-station hemodialysis unit at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg that will support up to 132 patients when at full capacity.
“Receiving services closer to home is integral to our government’s approach to improving Manitoba’s health system,” said Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen. “Expanding dialysis services in these communities will make it easier for Manitobans living with kidney disease and kidney failure to access the health care they need.”
March is Kidney Heath Month in Canada. For many people, early detection and treatment of kidney disease can help prevent or delay kidney failure or the need for dialysis.
Learn about kidney health and the Manitoba Renal Program at www.kidneyhealth.ca.
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