Patient's anger at dialysis move

John Walker describes how the service's relocation has affected him

A dialysis patient living in Leeds has spoken of his anger over the transfer of renal services from the city's infirmary to another hospital.

John Walker says the decision to temporarily base the dialysis unit at Seacroft Hospital means he has to travel about 15 miles for treatment.

Mr Walker, who lives in north west Leeds, said he is angry that patients were not consulted over the move.

Leeds NHS Trust will make a decision on the unit in December.

Mr Walker, who makes the journey to Seacroft Hospital by ambulance three times a week, said he had been told that the move was temporary, but plans to restore the unit at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) were now on hold.

"I feel betrayed and angry," he said.

"Why don't they (the trust) sit down and talk the patients to see what it is we want?"

Lillian Black, of the LGI Kidney Patients' Association, said: "This is about meeting the standard that patients should be able to dialyse within a 30 minute journey time to where they live.

"We believe barely half of patients living in the north-west of the city are actually meeting that standard."

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Unfortunately we have to prioritise some schemes over others because the money we have is not unlimited.

"Any recommendation about a dialysis unit at the Leeds General Infirmary - which will be made after discussion with senior managers and clinicians - will be based on clinical priorities."