On Thursday 6 October the Marshall Dialysis Unit in Bute was officially opened.
The unit at Victoria Hospital on the Isle of Bute was officially opened by Mrs Ann Polea, one of the founders of Bute Kidney Patients Support Group.
Representatives attended from Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Donald Reid (The Dr J N Marshall of Island of Bute Memorial Trust), Shirley MacFarlane (Bute Kidney Patients Support Group) and Charles Duthie (Bute Dialysis Patient).
The new unit, which has been operational since November 2021, is part of Victoria Hospital Renal service and will benefit patients living on the Isle of Bute, who will no longer have to travel for dialysis treatment to Inverclyde.
The unit has been funded by The Dr J N Marshall of Island of Bute Memorial Trust and Bute Kidney Patients Support Group, along with successful local community fundraising. The unit has space to dialyse up to three patients at one time, reducing the need for some patients having to travel to Inverclyde for treatment and care.
Mr Duthie recalled the feelings of the patient group, when plans for the new local unit were revealed: "It was like kids waiting for Christmas," he said.
The unit is open 6 days a week and will see up to 12 patients per week. Patients attending Dialysis Clinics are able to access a wide range of professional health and social care staff to further support them through their treatment and care.
Fiona Davies, Argyll and Bute HSCP Chief Officer said: "Many of our patients need dialysis a few times a week so they have been at the very heart of developing the new renal unit on Bute.
"The patients wanted dialysis closer to home in a spacious and comfortable environment. We’ve listened to their comments and the result is this new renal unit, which has state-of-the-art facilities and is receiving excellent patient feedback.
"The HSCP is pleased to have worked in a successful partnership with The Dr J N Marshall of Island of Bute Memorial Trust, Bute Kidney Patients Support Group and on behalf of the HSCP cannot thank everyone involved and including the community for their local community fundraising and efforts. The new dialysis unit is making a big difference for local dialysis patients and will do so for years to come."
Shirley McFarlane, from the Bute Kidney Patients Support Group set up in 2002, detailed the Group’s efforts in fundraising in the face of much local disbelief that they could ever reach the considerable sum required for the high-tech unit.
Donald Reid, chairman of the Dr J N Marshall (Island of Bute) Memorial Trust revealed the happy coincidence of the Trust winding up and looking for suitable recipients for its remaining resources and the needs of the Kidney Support Group in fulfilling its ambitions.
The Marshall Trust’s contribution was the final factor in achieving that ambition and its input is recognised in the plaque at the entrance to the unit.
Events then moved to the Victoria Hospital, where Mrs Ann Polea cut a ribbon to signal the official opening of The Marshall Dialysis Unit. Ann and her late husband John had been founder members of the Kidney Support Group, with John as its first Chairman.
The Marshall Unit Nursing team and Technicians are continuing to deliver excellent Dialysis services and are thrilled patients are enjoying a longer lie in bed and are not missing the early morning pick-ups to travel off the Island for care.