‘Our Tribute to Dave’

David Evans ...... Born 5th  August 1957          Died 24th August 2010
 

Dave was first and foremost a friend to everyone who met him.  His philosophy was ‘if you couldn’t say something positive don’t say anything at all.’  The photographs are evidence that he was rarely seen without a smile on his face, even when illness dominated.
Dave was a kidney patient in Glan Clwyd Hospital North Wales for 37 years where he experienced haemodialysis, a living donor kidney transplant from his mum Jean, a cadaveric transplant under the care of Mr Mick Bewick in London and in the later stage of his life peritoneal dialysis.
During his life he grasped every possible opportunity, which was afforded to him, using many of the events to raise awareness and funds for Kidney Research Unit for Wales (KRUF) with the support of Bob Anderson and more recently Kidney Wales Foundation.  Events included 3 solo parachute jumps, swimming 5000 meters, abseiling and in combination with holidays dialysing in Australia and 3 trips to New Zealand.
Since the opening of the new Renal & Diabetes Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital in 2004, Dave became a founder and active member of the Friends of Renal Care patients support group.  Much of his spare time and energies went into creating, implementing and managing his idea of a patient website:  ww.renalcareglanclwyd.co.uk this was supported by Senior Computers.
Knowing first hand the trials experienced by patients whilst dialysing, Dave established computer lessons and Internet access for other patients within the dialysis unit.  He also became the patients representative on the kidney management team through attending and contributing to the monthly business meetings.
Dave will be sadly missed but fondly remembered as a loyal and inspirational friend, patient, proud son of Jean and Glyn and most of all a support to all who knew and met him.

Written by Jean Evans MBE, Dawn Oliver, Transplant Specialist Nurse and Don Brown fellow patient and friend.

On July 29th 2010 nursing staff at the Renal & Diabetes Unit Glan Clwyd held a charity cake stall. Many patients and staff donated cakes, bara brith and all kinds of confectionary for sale.

Total amount raised on the morning was :

         Cakesales   £410.   

                              Raffle Draw   £230

                                GrandTotal. £640.             

   Many thanks to Mair Bissel , Renal Staff as well as friends and family.
        

On Tues 31st August 2010 Friends of Renal Care & Fundraisers met at the  Renal& Diabetes Unit Glan Clwyd .The occasion was to be thanked by staff  & patients for helping to raise money and buy 21 LCD television sets. The new televisions were needed after the digital switchover so various events & fundraising were started. Also purchased were the remote control handsets which also incorporated a “nurse call” button for emergencies.

The Total cost was £6971-70. We would like to thank the following who helped raise the funds needed.

    Mr Alan Pollard (represented by his wife Judi )

   Mr Don Webster,Don Brown,Mair Bissel & Sharon Webster.

   Mr Richard Poynton & Ollie Williams-Poyntons Butchers

    Debbie & Geoff – Red Lion Hotel Old Colwyn.

   Mr Andrew Murray (represented by his wife Diana ).

  Once again many thanks for your support & generosity

In April 2010 Friends of Renal Care opened a competition to all Glan Clwyd Renal patients, their carers, nursing & admin staff and families of all. The competition was to send photographs they had taken, to be judged and the twelve chosen would be displayed as the photo for that month. In addition, competitors were asked to submit “ a thought for that month” The response was overwhelmingand we would like to offer a huge thank you to all competitors for their entries.
The purchase of the calendars helps our fundraising & enables us to continue our support of Glan Clwyd Renal  medical Team & patients.
For information on obtaining Calandars please  contact Mr & Mrs Webster 01745-362351

Uned Dialysis Dros Dro yn agor yn Ysbyty Alltwen

Bydd uned dialysis dros dro yn agor yn Ysbyty Alltwen ym mis Ionawr fel y cam cyntaf i ddarparu uned arennol ymylol i wasanaethu De Gwynedd.

  Ysbyty Alltwen fydd cartref yr uned dros dro  tra bydd yr uned barhaol yn cael ei hadeiladu ar y safle.  Fe fydd yr uned dros dro yn agored i gleifion o Ionawr 2010.

  Mae’r uned wrthi'n cael ei chynllunio ar hyn o bryd a bydd contractwr yn cael ei benodi'n fuan fel bod y gwaith adeiladu yn gallu cychwyn. Disgwylir i’r uned fod yn barod yn hydref 2011.

  Fe fydd saith safle dialysis yn yr uned dros dro o fewn prif adeilad Ysbyty Alltwen.  Dewiswyd 11 o gleifion lleol fel rhai addas ar gyfer derbyn dialysis tair gwaith yr wythnos yn yr uned, ar ôl cael eu hasesu gan staff meddygol.  

  Dim ond cleifion sy’n weddol iach a heb gymhlethdodau fydd yn cael eu derbyn i’r uned dros dro. Bydd yn rhaid i gleifion eraill ddal i fynd i’r brif uned yn Ysbyty Gwynedd nes bydd yr uned barhaol yn Ysbyty Alltwen wedi’i gorffen.

  Dywedodd Nick Wilson, Rheolwr Rhwydwaith Arennol Gogledd Cymru: “Mae hwn yn gam pwysig at ddarparu uned ddialysis arennol lleol i gleifion De Gwynedd ac yn ganolfan ar gyfer gofalu am gleifion allanol cyn-dialysis a chleifion sydd wedi cael trawsblaniad.  Bydd yn golygu llawer llai o deithio i gleifion”.

  Dywedodd Steve Armstrong, claf a gafodd trawsblaniad a chynrychiolydd Cymdeithas Cleifion Arennau Cymru: “Mae’r Gymdeithas yn falch iawn fod y prosiect yn symud ymlaen a bod gennym ateb dros dro fel y gall rhai cleifion elwa ar unwaith tra bo’r trefniadau i adeiladu’r uned barhaol yn  cael eu cwblhau.”

  Mae’r Fframwaith Gwasanaeth Cenedlaethol Cymru ar gyfer Gwasanaethau Arennol, sy’n gosod safonau ar gyfer gofal pobl â chlefyd yr arennau, yn nodi bod angen i gleifion allu cael dialysis o fewn taith 30 munud o’u cartrefi.

  Cyhoeddodd Edwina Hart, Gweinidog dros Iechyd fod Ysbyty Alltwen wedi ei dewis yn dilyn proses ymgynghori gyda chleifion, gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol a Chynghorau Iechyd Cymuned  Gogledd Gwynedd a Meirionnydd ac mae’n ffurfio rhan bwysig o'r cynllun i wella gwasanaethau arennol ar draws Cymru.

Dywedodd Edwina Hart, y Gweinidog dros Iechyd:  

  Mae hwn yn gam mawr ymlaen yn ein cynlluniau i wella gwasanaethau arennol ar draws Cymru. Mae’n hanfodol bod cleifion arennol yn cael triniaeth dialysis yn agos at eu cartref.

  “Hefyd mae’n bwysig ein bod yn parhau i annog mwy o bobl i fynd ar y gofrestr rhoi organau.  Rydym yn gwybod bod mwy wedi gwneud ar ôl yr ymgyrch Rhodd Cymru: Dywed wrth Rywun Agos, dan arweiniad Aren Cymru ac arian Llywodraeth y Cynulliad. Fodd bynnag, mae angen gwneud mwy.

  “Hefyd, ar hyn o bryd rwyf yn ystyried y sylwadau a gasglwyd mewn ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus ar y dewisiadau ynglŷn â newid y system rhoi organau yng Nghymru. Gyda mwy o organau ar gael, y gobaith yw y bydd mwy o gleifion dialysis arennol yn gallu cael aren newydd ac felly na fydd angen dialysis arnyn nhw.”

  DIWEDD

  Am ragor o wybodaeth cysylltwch â:

Trystan Pritchard              01248 384938

  Temporary Dialysis Unit to be Opened at Ysbyty Alltwen

A temporary dialysis unit will be opened at Ysbyty Alltwen in January as the first step in providing a permanent satellite renal unit to serve South Gwynedd .

The temporary unit will be housed within Ysbyty Alltwen as an interim solution while a permanent unit is built on the site and will be open to patients from January 2010.

  The permanent unit is currently in the planning stages and a contractor is expected to be appointed soon so that construction work can begin. The unit is expected to be completed in the autumn of 2011.

  The temporary unit will house seven dialysis stations and will be located within the main Ysbyty Alltwen building. Eleven local patients have been identified as suitable for receiving dialysis three times a week at the unit, having been assessed by medical staff.

  The temporary unit will only receive patients who are relatively well and are without complications. Other patients will need to continue to attend the main unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd until the permanent Ysbyty Alltwen unit is completed.

  Nick Wilson, North Wales Renal Network Manager said: “This is an important step forward in providing a local renal dialysis unit for patients in South Gwynedd and an out patient base for care of other pre-dialysis and post transplant patients. It will significantly reduce travelling times for patients”.

  Steve Armstrong, transplant patient and Welsh Kidney Patient Association representative) said: The Association is very pleased that the project is moving ahead and that an interim solution has been possible so that some patients can benefit immediately whilst arrangements to construct the permanent unit are finalised.”

  The Welsh Renal National Service Framework, which sets standards for the care of people with renal disease, requires that patients should be able to access dialysis within a 30 minute drive time from their home.

  Ysbyty Alltwen was announced as the chosen location by Health Minister Edwina Hart following a consultation process involving patients, healthcare professionals and Gogledd Gwynedd and Meirionnydd Community Health Councils and forms an important part of the planned improvement of renal services across Wales .

  Health Minister Edwina Hart said:

  “This marks a major step forward in our plans to improve renal services across Wales . It is vital kidney patients have access to dialysis treatment close to home.

  “It is important we also continue to encourage more people to sign up to the organ donor register. We know there has been an increase following the Donate Wales: Tell a Loved One campaign, which is led by Kidney Wales and funded by the Assembly Government. However, more needs to be done.

  “In addition, I am currently considering the comments gathered in a public consultation on options to change the organ donation system in Wales . With more donor organs available, we hope, over time, more kidney dialysis patients will be able to receive a new kidney and therefore not need dialysis.” 

  For further information please contact:

Trystan Pritchard              01248 384938