HAEMODIALYSIS SELF CARE UNIT OPENS AT MORRISTON

PHOTOS

A ward at Morriston hospital has been refurbished to provide a designated training area for patients who want be
involved in their own care. Gail Williams, (clinical leader for self care education) is enthusiastic about the new facility as this will enable patients to learn how to manage their own condition, gaining greater controlandimproved health.
The self care unit provides an environment designed to empower and educate patients in their haemodialysis treatment. The unit has six stations, one of which is a cubicle which will be used by patients’ whose next step will be
“home”. Some comments below from patients who have experienced self care. “The self care unit is wonderful and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to take control of their lives, feel free and well informed of what is happening to them” “I am not a very confident person and I have been training for 10 weeks. I am now doing the whole procedure from start to finish and almost ready to go home. I can’t believe it! I am not the same person I was when I started dialysis. I have more confidence and not in the least bit frightened”.
“Taking charge of my treatment really did improve my confidence and my self esteem, and I now looking forward to home dialysis and would recommend it to anyone”.
The Swansea Kidney patients’ group has donated a lap top computer for use by the patients’ within the self care unit.
Gail intends that the laptop will aid patients’ learning. Also for patients’ to have access to information on the web and also access their blood results on “Renal Patients View”.

Swansea Kidney Group also presented £500 to the ABMU Exercise Research Programme.