Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am present...
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to announce that the Department of Health and Social Services in partnership with the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, has established dialysis treatment services at the H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital.
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This new Hay River dialysis service is part of the territorial Dialysis Program also available in Fort Smith and Yellowknife. The new dialysis service in Hay River began in January 2007. This is the result of a strong partnership between the Department of Health and Social Services Authority, the Department of Public Works and Services and medical staff. I would like to thank both Hay River MLAs for their ongoing interest and support of this project.
Community partnerships on this project should also be recognized. One of the three new dialysis machines was purchased with the support of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Elks and the Hay River Community Health Board Foundation.
This project demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the primary community approach of the integrated services delivery model. Providing this service for clients closer to their home community improves timely access for people living with kidney failure. Another important factor is patients now have the support of family and friends. Overall, this proximity of treatment greatly reduces stress on clients and their families.
The new dialysis treatment now offered in Hay River is timely as the need for this treatment is growing, in part as a result of increasing diabetes rates. Dialysis treatment is directed toward this growing need as an effective
treatment for people with kidney failure associated with diabetes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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