BUH dialysis expansion will help serve thousands more

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“Bringing these services closer to home is an important objective for the provincial chronic kidney program and reducing the need to travel helps improves the quality of life for dialysis patients who require treatment several times a week,” said Battlefords MLA Herb Cox during the opening.

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“Now over 50 per cent more residents … can receive life sustaining dialysis right here at home, at the Battlefords Union Hospital. Our government wants to acknowledge the hard work and the dedication of PNHR towards meeting the needs of community and improving patient outcomes.”

These changes were possible because of the money given to the BUH by both the Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA). $600,000 was provided by the government for the renovations of the dialysis unit. The SCA provided $60,000 for the upgrading of the chemo therapy unit. The ministry is also adding $430,000 in annual funding for the corresponding increase in operating costs to accommodate the expected growth in the units.

Cox also tipped his hat to the SCA, and said while he wishes no one needed chemo therapy services, he is glad patients can receive it in a comfortable environment.

“I guess I could say, as someone who has had occasion to frequent that room on numerous occasions and the old room on many occasions over the past several years, what a great room it is,” he said, getting clearly emotional. “Credit to PNHR, to this hospital, to everyone involved, in being able to have such a nice bright room. It’s such a wonderful addition to our hospital and I thank everyone who is involved.”

Several dozen people gathered in the hospital’s lobby on Jan. 24 to celebrate the opening and expanding of the units, including CEO of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency Scott Livingstone, David Fan, CEO of the Prairie North Health Region (PNHR), and Battlefords MLA Herb Cox.

Katherine Svenkeson is a reporter with battlefordsNOW. She can be reached at katherine.svenkeson@jpbg.ca or on Twitter @ksvenekson