Six local dialysis patients will no longer have to travel to London for life-saving kidney treatment.

Woodstock Hospital announced last week that they have expanded dialysis care by three stations.

The additional capacity will increase the Woodstock dialysis unit to nine stations, increasing care from 30 to 36 patients.

“The ability to increase the number of dialysis treatments that we can provide is a real blessing to our community,” said Randy Hicks, director of critical care and dialysis. “Our patients’ experience long days when undergoing dialysis and being able to receive care, close to home reduces stress and allows patients to lead a fuller life.”

A satellite of London Health Sciences Centre, the unit provides hemodialysis treatment for people with chronic kidney disease.

Many of the unit’s patients are waiting for kidney transplants, with others may require dialysis for the rest of their life.

The unit operates six days a week, administering 4,430 treatments year.

Dialysis treatment can take up to five hours, three times per week.

Carol Rhiger, regional director of the Ontario Renal Network for the Southwest Local Health Integration Network, said additional dialysis capacity was needed to address current and future chronic kidney disease in the region.

“This funding will help area patients with chronic kidney disease by easing time, travel, cost and inconvenience of receiving care outside their community,” she said.

Woodstock Hospital, located on Juliana Drive, opened on Nov. 20, 2011 with six-dialysis chairs, but with the capacity to grow to up to 12 chairs.

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