Published on Friday 8 June 2012 05:30

Care for kidney patients in Leeds has taken a “massive step forward” thanks to new dialysis equipment.

Fundraisers have collected £12,000 to help pay for an additional six machines which calculate fluid levels.

That means all three dialysis centres in Leeds, as well four in surrounding towns, now have the specialist equipment.

Paul Taylor, from the St James’s Hospital Kidney Patients’ Association, said: “From a patient’s perspective, these machines are a massive step forward in treating the management of fluid during dialysis.”

Cash towards the £4,000 machines was raised by the family of Bridie Connell.

Mrs Connell, from Meanwood, Leeds, has had two kidney transplants – one from an anonymous live donor.

Her son James and his friend Philip Rushfirth climbed Mont Blanc, raising £2,500.

Support also came from Freemasons at the Lodge of the Morning Star in Leeds, where Mrs Connell’s husband Bill is a member.

A 1960s night raised £4,500, while the Leeds Masonic Charities gave £500 and the West Riding Masonic Charities donated £4,500.

Bob Naylor, from the Lodge of the Morning Star, said after seeing the machines at St James’s: “I am now aware of the need for this amazing equipment.”

With additional funding from Leeds hospitals, each unit now has the body composition monitor, which calculates what a patient would weigh if their kidneys worked properly – crucial during dialysis.

Clinical scientist Lizzi Lindley said: “The monitor takes the guesswork out of assessing the fluid status of patients on dialysis, helping then to stay closer to normal and minimising the adverse effects of fluid overload and dehydration.”

Mr Taylor said: “One of the hardest things that patients face, apart from diet, is a regime of only being able to have around a litre a day which, when including hidden fluid in fruit and vegetables as well as things such as gravy, is extremely hard.”

He added: “Symptoms of losing too much fluid whilst on dialysis are sudden cramping, disabling headaches, sweating and a drop in blood pressure, all of which are intense and distressing.”

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