Some 20 job losses are on the cards for staff manning the Wellstone Clinic in Kilkenny following news that a five year contract which will ensure the provision of satellite renal dialysis for patients from the Carlow-Kilkenny has been awarded to German company Fresenius.
On Tuesday last the HSE met with representatives from Fresenius Medical Care to inform them that they had been successful in the recent public tendering process.
In a statement to the Kilkenny Advertiser, the Wellstone Clinic said “the decision came as a massive blow and is devastating for all at Wellstone Kilkenny, particularly the 20 highly qualified and dedicated staff as well as the 50 patients who have relied on Wellstone to deliver this critical service.
In Ireland, Fresenius provides dialysis, under contract with the HSE, in Dublin and Limerick. The awarding of this contract will see that the satellite service for Carlow-Kilkenny will continue to be provided in Kilkenny, although not at the purpose-built Wellstone Clinic on the Carlow Road where services have been administered for the past two years. The new unit will be located in the city centre on New Street
In a statement the HSE read: “The HSE has been very happy with and wishes to acknowledge the professional service and care provided by the company over the past few years. However, Wellstone Clinic Renal Care (PEI/ BBraun Avitum ) was not successful in this tender. The HSE will be working with management and staff of Wellstone Clinic Renal Care (PEI/ BBraun Avitum ) to ensure a seamless transition for all patients to the new facility.”
There had been reservations about the suitability of the new facility on New Street and the Irish Kidney Association made their dissatisfaction with the facility known to the HSE last year.
There is provision for private parking adjacent to the site and the transport arrangements that patients have been used to will continue as normal once the facility opens.
Patients will continue to be treated under the care of the consultant nephrologists from Waterford Regional Hospital (Dr Sean Leavey and Dr Frank Walker ), along with the multidisciplinary renal team. Both consultants and the dietitians will continue to visit the dialysis unit in Kilkenny each week.
In terms of the timeframe, it will take a number of weeks for the new facility to be fully operational and for the transfer of all renal patients to the new unit. In the meantime, patients will continue to receive their renal dialysis at the Wellstone Clinic. The HSE has already begun discussions with Fresenius Medical Care regarding an opening date for the new unit.
“We are satisfied that the securing of this contract will ensure the sustainability of the local dialysis services in Kilkenny,” said Richard Dooley, network manager, HSE South East Hospitals Group.
“The new contract will result in a 25 per cent increase in the number of renal dialysis treatments. Up until now, patients received dialysis at 12 stations. The new contract allows for 16 patients to receive dialysis at any one time.”
Mr Dooley added that every effort was being made to provide patients with as little disruption as possible in order to transfer to the new unit: “I wish to allay any worries that patients may have about this change of location,” he said. “The HSE and Fresenius Medical Care are committed to providing the best possible care for dialysis patients. The company have equipped the new unit to the highest specification and have paid great attention to providing a comfortable environment. We will be working closely with the company to ensure that the standard of care expected by us is maintained.”
