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Kidney units in Wales ‘at breaking point’ - North Wales News - News - Daily Post North Wales click for full story on CAMPAIGN and Don Brown


Kidney transplant patient Don Brown, 56, from Prestatyn, said while facilities at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd were modern, transport problems were exhausting for those undergoing four hours of dialysis, three times a week.

Mr Brown, who returns for treatment every four months after a successful transplant 29 years ago, also appealed for more kidney donors.
“The ambulance service is so busy and I have seen elderly people sitting around for hours after four hours of dialysis, just for transport,” he said. “There’s a big shortage of donors, and you can wait for years for a transplant operation.”

Dr Mick Kumwenda, renal physician at the Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust, said: “The number of patients needing dialysis is going up every year.
“Most dialysis units are now almost to full capacity and the status quo is not sustainable. We need extra capacity for dialysis and manpower across Wales, but most importantly we need more organ donors so we can carry out more transplants and get people off dialysis.”

The People Like Us campaign will be launched in Llandudno and at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay today when kidney patients will present health minister Edwina Hart with a 60-page dossier highlighting the crisis in renal care.