New Kidney Treatment Centre opens in Sidcup

Guy’s and St Thomas’ new Kidney Treatment Centre (KTC) at Queen Mary’s Hospital (QMH), Sidcup, opened its doors to patients for the first time on Monday 24 April.

The KTC, which will be run in partnership with kidney dialysis specialists Diaverum, has replaced a temporary dialysis unit on the QMH site.

The number of kidney dialysis stations has increased from 12 to 20 and there are also consultation rooms for outpatient appointments.

One of the first patients to attend the KTC was Bhakshar Patel, from Petts Wood. He said: “The new centre is lovely. It’s more open and spacious than the temporary unit we were using before and because there is more daylight it’s brighter. The environment is better – it’s more peaceful, there is easy access to the unit and everyone feels more comfortable. It’s a lovely space.

“I hope other patients who come here enjoy it too. The staff here are always brilliant so it’s good to still have them looking after us in the new ventre.”

Ros Tibbles, Service Improvement Nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’, says: “Our new Kidney Treatment Centre at QMH will allow us to dialyse more patients closer to home. This is especially important for kidney dialysis patients who need treatment three times a week for between four and five hours.

“Patients have been involved in choosing the colour scheme for the centre and the new environment will make it a much more pleasant and comfortable experience for our patients.

“We are also very pleased that the centre includes a number of clinic rooms, so that patients can have specialist treatment and outpatient consultations locally rather than having to travel into central London.”

Michael Hartnett, UK Managing Director of Diaverum, adds: “We have been providing dialysis for local patients from a temporary unit at QMH since 2010, and we are very pleased to relocate the service to a new state-of-the-art facility.

“The new centre will enhance the experience for all users and will create significant additional capacity, allowing all local kidney patients to be treated locally. The new Kidney Treatment Centre will allow Sidcup kidney patients to receive more co-ordinated, integrated and local healthcare, and we are delighted to work in partnership with our NHS colleagues to deliver these benefits.”

Andy Trotter, Chairman of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust which owns and manages the QMH site, says: “I am very proud that we are able to welcome our first patients to Guy’s and St Thomas’ new Kidney Treatment Centre.

“Oxleas is delighted to be working with our partners to lead this new and innovative approach to delivering healthcare, ensuring local people have access to the very best services possible.”

Dr Nikita Kanani, a local GP and Chief Clinical Officer for NHS Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group, adds: “This innovative new facility will make a big difference to local patients with chronic kidney disease.

“Patients often feel exhausted and suffer from itchy skin and muscle cramps when undergoing dialysis, and so being able to access care locally and not have to travel into central London will make a huge difference to their recovery and well-being. Having a high quality kidney treatment centre in the borough of Bexley is a major health advancement for residents.”

The KTC is part of a £30 million redevelopment of QMH by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust which owns and manages the site. The vision for its future is as a hub for services run by providers including Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and other local trusts.

Guy’s Cancer at QMH – Guy’s and St Thomas’ new Cancer Centre in Sidcup – is due to open on Monday 8 May. People living in outer south east London will be able to have radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment closer to home. At present some chemotherapy treatment is provided at Sidcup but patients needing radiotherapy treatment have to travel to Guy’s or St Thomas’.