Morning

I have just slept for 12 hours and feel much better- that is good.

I have been sent a link to an article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7003268.stm

which has the headline Kidney patients in part of Wales are suffering "Third World" conditions with renal units at breaking point, a charity has claimed. It then goes onto pick out bad situations in a renal unit etc and the time taken to get to a renal unit and the pain it inflicts on people when needling.

I firstly want to say that this headline is a disgrace. Here in the UK people get dialysis that keeps them alive - in the third world you are very very lucky to get dialysis. We should always keep that in mind.

From my experience of dialysis - which is only focused on one unit I would make the following comments. The first focuses on a growing problem and that is an ageing population with an increasingly sophisticated NHS. I would guess that 20 years ago many of the dialysis patients being dialysed at the moment would not have been. Dialysis has got a lot easier on the body this has meant that sick erdlery patients are being able to be kept alive. To be honest I often think this is not a good thing, the quality of life is so bad and nature is basically being held back for a few years. This is easy for me to say as I am not in that position and am not one of those family members.

The strain on dialysis and renal units is going to get worse as well as more and more people go into renal failure as the get into their old age.

Transport is a big problem with people having to wait long periods of time. Dialysis takes 4 hours on average but many patients have at least a 2 hour time frame before and after dialysis that rotates waiting for transport. Transport is done by taxis, volunteers and ambulances depending on the health of the patient. Sharing of taxis is common.

I have always driven into dialysis - I don't get any travel expenses paid. If i took transport this would be free. This seems a little weird as it often prevents people driving in due to cost instead they take the taxi service that costs much more. I do think that the transport service could be improved greatly and this is not just for dialysis it is for outpatient services as well.

In terms of pain the quote was "She said the treatment was "very painful", as two big needles were inserted so blood could be taken out and cleaned by machine.

She said patients were unable to hear the televisions provided, which would be a "distraction" and help patients psychologically."

The needles are big and it can be painful at times. Local anesthetic can be used which takes the needling pain away. Dialysis after that for the majority of patients is pain free. I am afraid that hospitals and pain go hand in hand and renal problems and pain go hand in hand.