Area dialysis patients liberated

Sue Lebeau Program Manager is pleased to see the return of Peritoneal Dialysis.

North Bay General Hospital
News Release

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North Bay General Hospital staff, together with patients, gathered today to celebrate the return of a new, very liberating mode of dialysis known as Peritoneal Dialysis (PD).

“Not only was this to celebrate this achievement for our patients, but also to celebrate the hard work that our renal team has done to achieve this,” says Sue LeBeau, Program Manager, Medicine Care.

PD is a means of dialysis by which clients can do their own dialysis, by instilling fluid into their abdomen through a catheter. There are many benefits for patients, one of which being independence. “PD had been here years ago, but had been discontinued as it kind of 'went out of style' here and in North America. We are very excited to be re-introducing it for our patients because it allows them freedom to travel, work and not have to come here three times a week for hemodialysis. It's a wonderful option for our patients!” LeBeau says.

Eighty year-old Irene Lacarte has been using PD since August 30th of this year. "PD has given me my life back," says Lacarte. “It has been the best experience for me. I feel a lot better; I feel more alive and have a lot more freedom than I did when I had to plan my time around three hour trips to the hospital three times a week."

Lacarte has been on dialysis for the last four years and says it can get tiresome planning your life around trips to the hospital. “Now the prep time is only 30 minutes, and I am free to do whatever I want while the treatment is happening, I’m not tied to a machine. I can go shopping, anything I like! I would definitely recommend PD to anyone,” she adds.

NBGH staff took part in an educational open house today, put on by the Nephrology Clinic.

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