New £1m Hospital Unit Unveiling

by Geoff Percival
geoff.percival@nqe.com
Essex Echo - 12/03/2008

SOUTHEND Hospital is to unveil a £1.1 Million extension to its kidney dialysis unit - designed to make life more comfortable for patients.
Staff and patients will gather on World Kidney Day on March 13. for the opening of the spacious new centre.
The number of dialysis stations, where patients get their treatment, will be increased from 18 to 28, which means more people can be treated at one time.
Renal consultant Dr David Carmichael said: "This extension is much needed. We are delighted we have this spacious new area, as well as the upgraded older area of the unit, to look after our patients."
Two patients with a combined age of 186 years will be among special guests at the unit opening. Leonard Hall, 93. from Leigh. has been having treatment twice a week at the unit for a year.
He said: "The treatment is wonderful. The staff treat us like family and I have company"
Also at the opening will be Evadna Watkins, who is also Ki and comes from Shoebury She worked as a nurse and later a matron before she retired.
When she moved to Southend, she worked for many years at the hospital as a volunteer and was awarded Hospital honours.
Other special guests will be Beryl and David Happe from Hawkwell.
Two years ago, on the couple's 47th wedding anniversary Beryl donated one of her kidneys to her husband.
Since the transplant, the couple have resumed their globetrotting lifestyle and are looking forward to a trip to Tenerife later this year. Mrs. Happe° said: "Neither of us have had any ill-effects and the after rare has been superb."
Deborah Walne, 35, from Shoebury, will also be at the event. Deborah was in her twenties when she first went on to home dialysis.
A first kidney transplant in 1997 was not successful and Deborah returned to dialysis.
Two weeks after returning from her honeymoon in 2006. she underwent a second trans. plant which, she says, has been "fantastic".
In fact, in April last year Deborah gave birth to Daniel.
She said: "The unit really needs this extension. The demand for dialysis grows all the time."