MEDIA RELEASE
6 January 2012
Hospital’s state-of-the-art dialysis unit official opening
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (SFH) and Nottingham
University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) are officially opening their brand new
state-of-the-art renal dialysis satellite unit at King’s Mill Hospital on 12 January
2012.
The unit provides haemodialysis for patients with kidney disease in a friendly and
supportive environment. It boasts the latest technology and design and offers
patients much improved surroundings for their care.
It houses an extra four renal stations, complete with the latest dialysis equipment,
bringing the total number of stations to 20. This provides extra flexibility for patients
to access treatment at the time of day that suits them. The unit is equipped with new
dialysis chairs and patients will have their own entertainment system including TV
and Wi-Fi internet access.
The unit has also benefitted from the donation of two state-of-the-art dialysis
machines funded by the Charitable Appeals Trust. The machines, which cost a total
of £27,000, were presented by the Appeals’ Chairman, Frances Stein MBE, on 1
December last year.
The unit will be named the Mike Cassidy Renal Unit and will be opened by Mrs
Geraldine Cassidy, whose husband Dr Mike Cassidy was the Clinical Director for
Renal services at NUH before his death in 2009.
Dr Simon Roe, Consultant Nephrologist from NUH, who operate the facility, said:
“We are proud to work in partnership with Sherwood Forest Hospitals to offer
patients excellent care and treatment in this brand new, specially designed unit.
“We aim to deliver high quality healthcare in the most appropriate way and this new
unit will enable us to do this.
“We are particularly pleased that Dr Cassidy’s family will open the new unit. We
hope that this acknowledges Dr Cassidy’s immense contribution to the care of kidney
patients locally”.
Susan Bowler, Executive Nurse Director for SFH, said: “Our Trust is very excited at
being able to greatly improve the quality of the care environment for dialysis patients
- it is an important step forward in continuing to provide first-class healthcare that
meets the needs of local people who require haemodialysis.
“Our grateful thanks go once again to the Charitable Appeals Trust for their
magnificent donation. The dialysis machines make a real difference to patients and
what we can do in treating kidney disease in this area”.
Mrs Geraldine Cassidy is delighted at the request from patients and staff to name the
new unit after her late husband. She said: “Mike was instrumental in originally
setting up and running the dialysis unit at King's Mill, and I do know he enjoyed
working there, often "nipping over" to solve problems.
“This is a truly wonderful tribute to Mike. My son Richard and I are extremely proud
of him and the recognition of his achievements, not only in his own unit, but also to
his dedication and contribution to teaching and research in renal medicine and
transplantation”.
Notes to Editors
Members of the media are invited to the official opening and tour of the unit on 12
January at 10am.
ENDS
Issued by the Trust’s Communications Department
Telephone: 01623 672294 for further information/interviews/photographs