Tooting: new £80m kidney care facility at St George's Hospital gets backed by patients

A new facility that could be built for kidney patients at St George's Hospital has had the backing of most staff and patients.

The unit, which would cost around £80m to build, is hoping to create a specialist centre that would see an end to kidney care happening between both St George's Hospital and St Helier Hospital.

The facility would provide care for kidney patients on long-term dialysis who become ill and need to stay in the hospital, and for patients who need more complex care such as a kidney transplant or surgery.

Patients, staff and members of the public were asked to have their say on the new proposal - and the response has been largely positive.

Here are some of the main findings:

- Throughout the summer over 750 kidney patients were spoken to, with 79 per cent saying the proposals were either good or very good.

- Out of all of the respondents, 70 per cent felt the proposals would help improve care for patients.

- Over half thought this new unit would help attract staff

- Travel and transport was the main concern raised throughout the engagement, although 70% of those who feel their journeys will be longer still feel the proposal is good.

The vast majority (95%) of kidney services will remain where they are. There will be no changes to existing dialysis services and the significant majority of clinics in local hospitals, units or at home.

The lead renal clinicians from St George's and St Helier hospitals, Professor Debasish Banerjee and Dr Ginny Quan said: "We are pleased that our kidney patients from both hospitals have responded so positively to our proposal to improve kidney care by investing in a new inpatient renal unit at St George's.

"As kidney doctors, we are confident this is the right way forward to improve care and experience for our patients and their families."

The findings will be shared with the decision-making bodies to determine if the proposal is to be taken forward to the next stage - the full decision-making business case.

The decision-making process will take place through October and early November.

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