Former gym set for new life as a dialysis unit

Lewis Smith Local Democracy Reporter

Plans to turn a former gym into a dialysis unit have been submitted to the local council by the Swansea Bay Health Board.

The former fitness gym based in Brackla could soon become home to a new renal unit for patients from Bridgend who require dialysis and who currently have to travel to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

If given the green light by council bosses over the coming months, it would see the creation of a unit with 21 dialysis stations, that would be able to undertake over 13,000 rounds of treatment per year.

Fast-tracked

Even though the Bridgend County Borough area currently falls under the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board’s region, dialysis services are provided by the Swansea Bay health board. The proposal says the unit would be run by Fresenius Medical Care on behalf of NHS Wales, and would be opened on Monday-Saturday, from 6:30am – 8:30pm.

The report read: “The proposed 21 station Dialysis Unit comprises a new clinical facility initiated by the Swansea Bay University Local Health Board (SBUHB) to be managed and operated by Fresenius Medical Care UK Renal Services Ltd (FMC), all on behalf of NHS Wales, to provide improved out -patient renal dialysis treatment.

“The new facility would increase the overall capacity of renal dialysis services east of Swansea, supporting the NHS Wales overall requirement for an increased capacity for renal dialysis within the wider South West Wales region.”

The site is based in the Triangle Shopping Centre on the Brackla housing estate, and is near to a Co-op supermarket, a Greggs, Pizza Hut and a number of other local traders. It is just over a mile from Bridgend Town Centre and has access to a 56-space car park.

Plans say that if approval was granted by the local authority, the construction period for the facility would be “fast tracked” for patients in the region, adding that plans for similar facilities could also be in the works for Neath Port Talbot.