The province announced today that an additional 12 spaces will be added to help treat dialysis patients at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre.

The enhanced service includes the hiring of two trained renal staff to expand operating hours to include an evening shift.

Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski says the enhanced care will be good for people in the Parkland.

“To expand the capacity in here, I know the families and the people that are dealing with dialysis, they’re already dealing with an anxious situation and having to travel out of the region just compounds that,” said Michaleski. “So having expanded capacity here in Dauphin, means compassionate care closer to home.”

The additional spaces will be available on March 1st and will expand the weekly patient capacity to 36 from 24.

Expanding the patient capacity in Dauphin is part of the province’s Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, which is aimed at decreasing road travel and wait times for patients in Manitoba.

Michaleski added that the recent announcement adds on to several changes at the DRHC, from the MRI to the revamped Emergency Department.

“Those are significant commitments to improve healthcare,” said Michaleski. “And now this dialysis, it’s about treatment, and getting those treatments brought back here and making them available in the Parkland.”

Around 14 percent of Manitobans live with kidney disease, and about one-third of them develop kidney failure in their lifetime.