Renal distress

Dialysis patients at The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) are voicing frustration over inadequate resources in its renal unit, which they say is affecting the quality and consistency of their care.

One patient, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, described the situation in the unit as “a disaster”.

“Every week we have a different problem in the unit. When a nuh di pump mash up, we have problem with acid or fluid; it’s a disaster. And the unit can shut down anytime,” the patient told The Gleaner. “And when you talk, it’s a problem ‘cause when yuh seh anything dem spite yuh when you come fi yuh treatment.”

Dialysis is a medical procedure that helps remove extra fluid and waste products from the blood when the kidneys are no longer able to perform this function.

This patient has been receiving treatment at the UHWI for over a decade, but noted that the situation has worsened in the past two years.

“The standard at University Hospital drop … . It drop bad, bad, bad,” the patient said, adding that the dialysis machines often break down and this is not communicated to the patients who then show up and are unable to receive necessary treatment.

Another patient, John*, shared that the dialysis patients had even written a letter to the hospital administration to voice their concerns, but nothing has been done to address the issues.

“For months now, we’ve been sounding the alarm about the devastating conditions inside the dialysis unit. Yet, nothing has changed. We are running out of time, and worse, we feel we’re being treated as if our lives don’t matter,” he said.

Another major issue he raised was the frequent breakdown of the water treatment system, an essential component of dialysis. Whenever it malfunctions, treatment is halted, and patients are left without dialysis for days at a time. He said that despite complaints being lodged since January, no permanent solutions have been implemented, and management has not provided any explanations.

“We pay for our treatments, often in advance, even though many of us are barely managing to afford it. But time and again, we are turned away due to lack of materials. Imagine paying for a life-saving procedure only to be told, after arriving, that there are no supplies, no needles, no lines, no working machines,” he said.

He explained that he should be receiving dialysis at least three times a week, with each session costing $7,500. However, the frequent cancellations not only put patients’ health at risk but also disrupt their work schedules.

“For many of us, missing dialysis means swelling, weakness, shortness of breath, or worse. Every missed session puts us at risk of serious complications or death,” he said.

“For somebody who is working, it is not easy going to your employers and tell them, ‘I cannot come in today or tomorrow because I never got treatment in the time you allotted me to get treatment because of human error and things that can be avoided’,” he added.

He said another “dehumanising” condition of the unit he has observed is a lack of proper sanitation.

Feeling “trapped in a failing system”, the patient laments not being able to transfer to other hospitals as their dialysis units cannot accommodate anyone else.

The UHWI is one of five public hospitals that have renal-care units. The others are Spanish Town Hospital, Kingston Public Hospital, Cornwall Regional Hospital, and Mandeville Regional Hospital.

Kerry-Ann Robinson, public relations and communications manager at the UHWI, told The Gleaner on Wednesday that the hospital was investigating the claims.

*Name changed on request.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com