Haemodialysis patients from Redditch and Bromsgrove who currently have to travel for dialysis treatment will soon have a new dialysis unit on their doorstep.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), which runs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), will be opening a 20-station satellite facility to cater for around 50 patients from the north of Worcestershire who require dialysis, with the capacity to treat up to 100 in the future.

The location of the new unit is yet to be decided but the Trust’s Renal Dialysis Project Team will be working to identify a site in the Redditch area that will be as accessible as possible for the majority of patients using it.

Andrew McKirgan, Director of Partnerships at UHB said: “We understand that travelling to and from dialysis sessions can be a source of anxiety for patients, so we will be trying to find somewhere that minimises travel time and has convenient access.”

The new facility, which should be operational within 12 months will also allow UHB to run outpatient clinics for a range of clinical specialties from the same site. Again, this will cut travelling time for north Worcestershire patients who currently have to travel to the QEHB in south Birmingham for appointments. The specialties that will offer services will be agreed in partnership with Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England.

Dr Jonathan Wells, Chair and Clinical Lead of Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG said: “This is great news and will further enhance local health services for local patients. We fully support the move to bring haemodialysis nearer to people’s homes and we will be working closely with UHB to develop plans for more locally based services in the future.”