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RD&E celebrates 40 years of the Exeter Kidney Unit
Staff and patients at the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital celebrated a special milestone recently – 40 years of the Exeter Kidney Unit serving the community.
Four decades ago this specialist unit started with only two dialysis machines and looked after less than 50 renal patients. Today the services provide life saving treatment to thousands of patients with five satellite units across Devon, a dedicated 26-bed ward at the RD&E Wonford hospital site and a brand new state of the art haemodialysis unit at the RD&E Heavitree hospital.
Royal Devon & Exeter Renal Lead Clinician Dr Richard D’Souza said: “It has been a fantastic 40 years and everyone over the years has helped contribute to the incredible service we have today.
“I would like to thank staff for all their hard work and dedication and give huge thanks to the Exeter Kidney Patient Association, whose incredible support has been invaluable to patients and staff over the years.”
Chris Phillipson, who started dialysis treatment in Exeter in 1973 and has been a transplant success for 31 years, said at the 40th anniversary celebration event: “It’s both strange and lovely to be back and see all these old faces.”
Mr Phillipson said: “I was only about 24 when I started dialysis and you didn’t know too much about it all back then. I used to have dialysis for six hours, three times a week for four years. You spend a lot of time with the staff and other patients and I remember it really felt like one big family together, there to support one another.”
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Pictured above: Dr Harry Hall and patient Chris Phillipson cutting the cake in front of staff past and present with Dr Richard D'Souza far right
The RD&E expects visitors to assist our infection control regime by following this advice:
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Stay home if you have a cold, infection or stomach upset and only visit if you have had no symptoms for at least 48 hours
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Keep children, especially babies, home because they are vulnerable to germs and infections brought into hospital
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Wash your hands before and after your ward visit using soap and water or hospital hand gel dispensers on wards
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Use the chairs on wards, not beds to sit on
