Health board submits plans for new dialysis centre

Lewis Smith, local democracy reporter

Plans to turn an empty former factory building  in to a new dialysis centre have been submitted to the local council.

The proposals put forward by Swansea Bay University Health Board would see the part-demolition of Stationary House in Acacia Avenue, Sandfields, in order to build a new state-of-the-art dialysis centre on the site.

£70 million investment

The move is said to be part of a £70m investment in to south Wales renal services along with another dialysis centre which is currently being built in Bridgend.

Renal services are currently provided by Swansea Bay University Health Board for people in its own area as well as those in the Hywel Dda and Cwm Taf Morgannwg health boards.

However it has noted that there is a need for additional dialysis units to cover both the Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend areas.

Car parking

If approved the plans would also include car parking and landscaping work with hopes they could be ready by August of 2025 with the aim of the development being to relieve pressure on Morriston Hospital as well as enabling patients to be treated closer to home.

A statement from the health board said: “Assuming the plans, which also include car park and landscaping work, are approved it is hoped the centre will be ready by next August. It will feature 27 stations with a maximum capacity of 108 patients. It will also have a training area for nurses who teach people to dialyse at home.”

Swansea Bay’s clinical director for renal services in south west Wales, Dr Clare Parker, said: “A community consultation was carried out as part of the planning application, which has now been submitted to Neath Port Talbot Council for consideration. If approval is granted we would hope to start on-site by the end of this year with the work completed by next August.

“We believe this will be a positive development and not only for patients who will be able to dialyse closer to home. It will bring new life to a currently-derelict site and create new employment in the area.”