Mini-dialysis units demonstrated

The units are the size of a portable television

Mini-dialysis machines which kidney patients can use at home have been unveiled at a Hertfordshire hospital.

The Lister Hospital in Stevenage has demonstrated the units which are the size of a portable television.

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust hopes the machines will increase the number of dialysis patients treating themselves at home.

The number of patients requiring dialysis in England and Wales is predicted to reach 40,000 by 2018.

"We are inviting patients to try the NxStage units for themselves and receive training on how to use them," consultant Dr Roger Greenwood said.

Government target

"It is our intention then that patients will subsequently be able to take them home.

"We have created a home setting so patients can understand for themselves just how compact and patient-friendly the unit is.

"The historical image conjured up by home haemodialysis is of Portakabins in the back garden to cater for the sheer size of the hardware and the amount of medical consumables required."

Only 1.1% of haemodialysis patients in England and Wales treat themselves at home and the government wants this increased to 15%.