KwaZulu-Natal South Coast residents and holidaymakers who are reliant on dialysis treatment now need look no further than the recently-opened National Renal Care (NRC) Athlone unit in Amanzimtoti.
“This bright, modern and comfortable dialysis facility, conveniently located in the Athlone Park Shopping Centre, is a major step forward for renal services on the southern borders of Durban, and is perfectly situated for both local patients and those on holiday,” NRC Athlone unit leader, Gloria Ndlazi, says.
Amanzimtoti is a popular tourist destination, well known for its great beaches, and is particularly favoured by surfers. The annual sardine run, which occurs around this time of year, also attracts many people to the town. With increasing numbers of people flocking to this coastal oasis, the need for dialysis services in the area has also grown.
NRC operations manager, Brendon Hill, says the Athlone unit, which opened its doors in April, was designed with the potential for expansion in mind. “At full capacity we can accommodate 120 patients and we also offer an extended range of specialist services. These include a 24-hour mobile acute dialysis service, chronic haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and our Healthy Start programme.”
The NRC Athlone dialysis unit is open six days a week and provides life-saving dialysis treatment for many renal patients. As well as being equipped with the latest dialysis machines, this ultra-modern facility boasts many other facilities and services to improve patient experience.
Ndlazi says the unit’s staff pride themselves on the multi-disciplinary approach the NRC Athlone facility takes to caring for its renal patients. “Our state-of-the-art equipment is complimented by a highly skilled nephrologist, Dr Priyesh Mody, who oversees the unit, professional staff and a dynamic management team, all of whom are committed to providing quality care to our patients.”
Haemodialysis is a life-saving procedure for people with kidney function impairment. A dialysis machine filters the blood by providing an artificial purifying mechanism for people whose kidneys can no longer eliminate dangerous toxins from the body. Peritoneal dialysis is another form of dialysis, involving fluid exchange via a membrane in the patient’s abdomen. Patients with end stage renal disease usually need dialysis treatment three times a week for around four hours at a time.
National Renal Care (Pty) Ltd operates as a joint venture between Adcock Ingram Critical Care (Pty) Ltd and Netcare Limited and offers a range of additional services to patients, including nutritional guidelines, patient education and support groups for patients and their families.
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Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of National Renal Care
Contact : Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Sarah Wilson or Meggan Saville
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected],[email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]