By Alison Campsie

A major wing of the New Victoria Hospital, Glasgow, which was built under a controversial private finance scheme, remains closed to patients after weaknesses were identified with the water treatment plant used in kidney dialysis treatment.

The equipment is needed to purify the water used during dialysis of certain toxins that can be harmful to renal patients, but an independent report found the plant would quickly become out-of-date and unable to support advancements in treatment.

A decision was taken not to open the renal unit along with the rest of the hospital, and frustration is growing among patient groups about a lack of information regarding the delay.

Andrew Allison, of the Scottish Kidney Federation, said: "This is a large area of concern for us, particularly when you consider the amount of money that has been spent on the facilities which are not being used. It is the patient who is being short-changed."

The renal unit is designed to take around 100 dialysis patients from the city's Gartnavel and Stobhill hospitals.

Margaret Hinds, chairwoman of the Health Service Forum South East, said: "The issues with the renal unit are extremely disappointing. It is not as if dialysis is new."

A spokeswoman for Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS said the New Victoria Hospital had treated "many thousands" of patients since it opened in June with "high levels of satisfaction".

She added: "Of all the different services offered locally at the hospital, the renal dialysis service is the only one which has not been introduced according to the timescales in the original plan."

19 October 2009

Reproduced with the permission of The Evening Times, Glasgow © 2009 Herald & Times Group