A special piece of medical machinery has been handed over to the renal unit of Basildon Hospital thanks to big-hearted former patients.
Members of Basharp - Basildon Hospital Association of Renal Patients - helped raise £1,800. This was topped up with £5,000 from the Bedford Lodge of the Benevolent Society in memory of Eunice Clegg, the wife of a former member of the society.
Like this - the unit's Dr Stephen Morgan demonstrates the machine on Bob Flack Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
Bob Flack, treasurer of Basharp, said the Site Rite was an immensely useful piece of machinery for both patients and hospital staff at the renal unit.
He said: "Basically, the renal failure is kidney failure - of which the prognosis is death.
"Dialysis simulates the actions of the kidneys - cleaning the blood. Unfortunately, this means inserting a large needle into the body and nearly 40 per cent of people cannot dialyse via a vein in their arm so it has to go into their carotid vein in their neck.
"This machine uses ultrasound to help doctors and nurses get a clear view of the blood vessels before they insert the needles."
Published Wednesday October 30, 2002
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