SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There is good news for people seeking treatment for kidney problems at Stanton Territorial Hospital, which plans to nearly double the capacity of its dialysis.

Medical director Dr. Bing Guthrie said Stanton hospital recognizes the need for dialysis machines is only going to grow as the territory's population ages. - James Goldie/NNSL photo

The Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation, tasked with raising funds for needs at the hospital, has announced it will be focusing its next capital fundraising campaign on the expansion of the hospital's dialysis services, which face a higher demand than can be currently accommodated, according to a press release. The foundation aims to raise $250,000 to purchase four additional dialysis machines and cover the necessary renovations to allow for the unit's growth.

"The need for the service is going to increase over time and we are growing the program as we are projecting the need," said Dr. Bing Guthrie, medical director at Stanton.

Hemodialysis - commonly referred to as "dialysis" -- treatments help patients whose kidneys fail to properly filter toxins their body, essentially acting as an artificial kidney. Patients are connected intravenously to a dialysis machine which moves blood through a filtering device before returning the clean blood back into the body. The process takes approximately four hours and is typically required three times a week.

There are currently five machines at Stanton's dialysis unit, which is open 12 hours a day, six days a week, accommodating a maximum of 13 patients each day.

"Having those new units we'll be able to increase that (number)," said Guthrie. "Trying to provide this service in the territory is a priority, and there are lots of reasons why we are noticing more and more (cases)."

According to Guthrie, an aging population and a high prevalence of diabetes in the North are two factors contributing to this increased need. He noted there are approximately 500 people in the NWT identified to have some form of renal failure, many of whom will need dialysis treatment.

At the moment, in the event that the unit is completely booked Guthrie said staff will "juggle things around" to ensure everyone receives their treatment.

"We can do our best to accommodate in that situation," he said. "I'm not aware of any times we've had to send people down south for hemodialysis. Occasionally people are so sick we have to send them down south for other reasons, but we can accommodate most of the work here."

Earlier this year, Amanda and Brian Noseworthy were told that Amanda's father, who suffers from kidney disease, would not be able to receive dialysis treatments during his planned visit from Newfoundland because the unit was at maximum capacity. In the past, the family had simply phoned the hospital in advance of a visit from Amanda's father so they were ready for his arrival.

In an e-mail to the family at the time, Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy stated the dialysis program was "operating near 100 per cent capacity ... it is simply not possible to forecast months in advance what the schedule and capacity will look like."

Guthrie said he did not believe there was any connection between this family's experience and the hospital's decision to pursue more dialysis machines.

"I don't know the dates when we decided to increase those numbers, but I think it pre-dated that (situation)," he said.

"We try our best to accommodate but obviously when you've got a limited resource it can't always happen. At one point we were at our capacity and there was no room to accommodate someone to come on up. Hopefully now with our expanded services, it will become less of a problem."

Funds from the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation's annual golf tournament and from the Northwestel Festival of Giving will go directly toward this campaign.

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