About 300 people packed into a small room at the Alberton Curling Club Thursday night to protest a plan to shut down the dialysis unit at P.E.I.'s Western Hospital.

Eight people are treated by two nurses at the unit. Last week the province announced starting Oct. 1 those patients will have to travel to Summerside for treatment.

Nancy Hammill joined a committee formed at the meeting to fight the closure. Hammill expects her father will soon need dialysis treatment.

"It's life saving. This is not a one, two, or a three month treatment. This is a lifetime for some people," she said.

"People will die as a result of this decision that government has decided. So no, it's unacceptable. Unacceptable."

Trent MacDougall, one of the eight being treated at Western Hospital, also joined the committee. MacDougall said the regular travel to Summerside will be difficult for him.

"Financially, for one thing, to try to get down to Summerside is going to be really hard," he said.

The change will cost him at least $60 a week in gas, he said.

"The injustice of having these people travel upwards of an hour per each way: it's inhumane, it's unjust, and I plan to fight it," said Hammill.

"I do believe the Island will be behind us."

The new committee members say they'll do whatever it takes to keep dialysis services in West Prince. They plan to request a meeting with the health minister as soon as possible.

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