Locations for renal services - patient satisfaction surveys

Renal services have been given priority in recent years in an attempt to align them with levels of provision in other European countries. A survey of patients receiving renal replacement therapy in the Northern Ireland Regional Centre, Belfast, was carried out to ascertain their views on services (survey I). After the establishment of a Northern Health and Social Services Board (NHSSB) sub-regional unit in 1995, the survey was repeated for patients attending the new unit (survey II). In survey I, 53% NHSSB patients responded. Travelling time to and from hospital was a major issue for the majority of patients, with 33% of haemodialysis patients receiving twice weekly treatment unwilling to attend more frequently, even if clinically advised to do so. In survey II, 60% of patients responded. Travel times to the sub-regional unit were significantly shorter and patients felt it provided a similar or better standard of service, compared with the regional centre. All the twice weekly haemodialysis patients would increase to thrice weekly if clinically advised to do so. The study underlines the importance of locating dialysis facilities closer to patients' homes.