Twenty years of renal service

Heinz Hecker, renal service patient, Dr David Smithard, consultant renal physician, Sister Carol Blackshaw and Dr Peter Ackrill, the renal consultant who established the service.

Around 70 patients and staff attended a special event at Rochdale Infirmary to mark 20 years of renal services in the town.

The event also marked the second year of operation of the new £500,000 renal unit at the Infirmary.

Guests at the event, arranged by service staff, recalled how the renal service has grown substantially since it was first created at the Birch Hill Hospital site at Littleborough.

When the renal service first opened at Birch Hill, it offered six dialysis stations which operated three days a week. That grew to a six day-a-week operation with 16 stations in 2001. Then, two years ago, the £500,000 conversion of the former Jefferson ward at the Infirmary saw the successful transfer of the service.

Heinz Hecker, renal unit patient, said: “The transition from Birch Hill to Rochdale Infirmary was made so easy for the patients and the care at Rochdale Infirmary continues to be excellent.

“The staff are fantastic which is really important when you visit for dialysis three times a week – it’s half your life.”

Among those attending the event, which was attended by staff and patients, past and present, were Dr Peter Ackrill, the Manchester renal consultant who, along with Dr David Smithard from Rochdale, first developed the service at Birch Hill Hospital. Prof Phil Wiles, Pennine Acute Trust’s clinical director for renal and diabetes services also attended.

Dr Smithard, who gave a short speech to guests, said that the renal unit had been the first of its kind in the North West.  He emphasised the importance of teamwork and drew attention to the small turnover of staff over the twenty years.

Sister Carol Blackshaw said: “This event brought together many of those who have been involved over the years, and it was good to be able to talk about how we have improved the service, and how we can continue to ensure that it offers a first class service.”

John Saxby, chief executive of Pennine Acute Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “The Infirmary’s new renal unit is an excellent facility, and patients clearly rate the work of the staff very highly indeed.

“The evening was a great chance to hear about how the service had been started and grown through the efforts of everyone involved. Patients left me in no doubt as to how highly they valued the service, and how they hope to see continued improvements in the future. It is a marvellous service and a real jewel in the crown of the Infirmary.”