Caravan park opens dialysis unit

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South Derbyshire's dialysis unit has been set up at a caravan park in Gwynedd

A new kidney dialysis unit for people holidaying in north Wales is about to receive its first patient.

The portable centre has been set up at Dinlle Caravan Park near Caernarfon by Southern Derbyshire Health Authority.

The park was approached by health officials as many of its patients visited the area on holidays.

Dialysis patient Dave Clarke, 51, said he was normally only able to go away for two days but this would "make the world of difference".

Assistant park manager John Hanby added: "People can now come away on holiday without the restraints of a lengthy time in hospital."

The portable cabin has two dialysis units and has been built by the health authority.

Its first patient will be received on Wednesday, and it can also be used by patients who are not staying at the park.

"It's been put on a hard pitch so it can stay as long as we're open. It's mainly aimed at people who are on holiday," Mr Hanby said.

Usually patients going on holiday have to book into a local hospital for dialysis, which can often be full Paul Roome, of Southern Derbyshire Health Authority

"Two patients can be treated at the same time, and a Freeview TV has been set up for them in the unit."

He said the heath authority approached the site, located at Dinas Dinlle as many of their patients went on holiday to the area. He added they were paying for the pitch - as other caravaners would.

Mr Clarke, 51, and his wife Lindsey from Swadlincote in Derbyshire are holidaying at a neighbouring caravan park overlooking Menai Strait, and he will be able to use the portable unit.

A keen caravaner, Mr Clarke, who has been on dialysis for seven years, said he had been lobbying for two years for the centre to be opened.

"This will make a world of difference. I have a touring caravan and normally we can only go away for two days before I have to return for dialysis," he said. "This will mean we can go away for much longer."

He said there was a private dialysis centre available but this one was free.

The caravan park, which is closed between November and February, is owned by Thornley Leisure, which has six parks on the north Wales coast and one in Cheshire.

The site in Dinas Dinlle has 179 pitches for static caravans and 171 for touring caravans and tents.

Paul Roome, chief technician at Southern Derbyshire Health Authority, said they had two similar caravans 20 years ago - one of which was in Porthmadog - but they closed because not enough people were using them.

However he said they believed the new caravan would prove more popular.

"We already have three bookings and we are planning to take groups of patients away there next year for a week at a time," he said.

"Usually patients going on holiday have to book into a local hospital for dialysis, which can often be full. So it can be very difficult for them to go away."