Lions supporting dialysis patients
Thanks to a $50,000 donation from the Lions Club, people undergoing treatment at the Wansey Dialysis Centre at Charlestown will soon be enjoying the comfort of 10 new dialysis chairs.
Each week, the Wansey Centre provides kidney dialysis treatments for approximately 80 renal failure patients from the Greater Newcastle area and beyond. These patients need to sit in a dialysis chair for up to six hours three times a week.
Charlestown Lions Club President Michael Morris said the Lions Club donation is in response to a fundraising initiative by the Hunter and Northern Kidney Association (HANKA) to replace the centre’s twenty two dialysis chairs.
“The Lions Club is pleased to support HANKA in their efforts to buy new dialysis chairs to improve the comfort of people undergoing dialysis treatment at the Wansey Centre,” Mr Morris said.
“Locally, the Charlestown Lions Club donated $10,000 towards the new chairs and we were successful in applying for a grant from the Lions Clubs NSW-ACT Public Health Care Foundation for another $40,000.”
The new fully motorised dialysis chairs have adjustable seats, back rests and leg rests, and removable arms that allow side entry for people in wheelchairs. They also have the benefit for nursing staff of being height adjustable.
Community Dialysis Services Nurse Manager Kelly Adams said the new chairs will significantly improve the comfort and independence of dialysis patients.
“Many of our patients are frail or have limited mobility and they need a nurse to help them adjust the current dialysis chairs,” Ms Adams said.
“These new chairs will do a great deal in making the patient’s dialysis experience more pleasant by allowing them a greater degree of independence to reposition themselves during treatment.
“We are extremely grateful to Charlestown Lions Club and Lions NSW- ACT Public Health Foundation for their generous donation.”
The Wansey Centre is expecting to take delivery of the new chairs next month.
Contact: Gemma Smith
Phone: 4921 4501