A NEW £600,000 extension to a major renal unit at Ipswich Hospital, helping to treat people from across the region is due to be opened this week.Funded by Primary Care Trusts in Essex it will mean patients in North Essex no longer have to face a six hour journey for their dialysis to other hospitals.

A NEW £600,000 extension to a major renal unit at Ipswich Hospital, helping to treat people from across the region is due to be opened this week.

Funded by Primary Care Trusts in Essex it will mean patients in North Essex no longer have to face a six hour journey for their dialysis to other hospitals.

The six bed treatment centre has the latest state-of-the art medical equipment and will benefit patients living throughout Suffolk and North

Essex.

The new wing will offer very specialist care for people including

expert support for patients who are suffering from kidney failure.

The renal unit is run by Baxter Renal Services in partnership with the NHS.

Paul Forden, chief executive of the Ipswich Hospital Trust said: "Primary Care Trusts, hospitals and health care providers are working very

closely together and this new wing shows what can be achieved in

partnership.

"The Ipswich Renal Unit has an excellent reputation and supports hundreds of

people who need dialysis each year. We are delighted to have this new wing

which will benefit many more patients."

Baxter Healthcare, Renal Therapy Services has been providing dialysis

services in partnership with the NHS since 1985, and currently operates

seven units in England and Wales.

Harwich MP Ivan Henderson is due to formally open the new wing on Friday as some of the patients who will benefit most from the extension live in his constituency.