VIDEO -Haemodialysis Clinic celebrates grand opening at Lakeridge Gardens in Ajax

Lakeridge Health celebrated the official opening of its haemodialysis clinic located on the first floor of Lakeridge Gardens Long-Term Care Home in Ajax. The in-house haemodialysis clinic features nine state-of-the-art dialysis stations.

“We’re excited to officially open Durham Region’s newest and modernized haemodialysis clinic at Lakeridge Gardens,” said Cordelia Clarke Julien, Board Chair, Lakeridge Health. “The opening of this new clinic embodies our ambitious journey to reimagine health care in Durham Region.”

With limited dialysis providers in Durham Region, the new clinic at Lakeridge Gardens will provide increased access to critical health-care services to residents in the Region. The new clinic will also help reduce travel time for patients who previously travelled to Toronto, Peterborough, or Cobourg for treatment multiple times per week.

It will also enable an increased quality of life for Lakeridge Gardens residents who can access treatment in the comfort of their own home.

“The opening of the new haemodialysis clinic at Lakeridge Gardens has been life-changing,” said Midori Kato, daughter and caregiver for Taeko Hijikata who receives dialysis at the new clinic. “For years I would drive my mom from Ajax to Oshawa three times a week for her dialysis appointments and now I can walk her across the street. Having this new clinic in our neighbourhood has improved the quality of life and health of my mom and our family. We are so grateful to the amazing staff, and it truly feels like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders.”

More than a dozen politicos and local dignitaries were in attendance for the ribbon-cutting, while Ontario Long Term Care Minister Paul Calandra sent his congratulatory message in via e-mail, saying the new haemodialysis clinic will be “crucial” in

reducing travel time for patients across Durham Region. “It will also allow Lakeridge Gardens residents to access the state-of-the-art treatment they deserve in the comfort of their own home.”

Rebecca Cooper, Vice President, Ontario Renal Network & Trillium Gift of Life Network, was also excited about the clinic’s role in eliminating the need for people to travel back and forth to hospital for dialysis multiple times every week.

“The nine-station dialysis unit will also increase overall capacity for dialysis in the region, providing access for additional patients from the community,” she said. “We are very pleased that this partnership with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Long-Term Care, and Lakeridge Health has enabled this patient-centred care model for the community.

Durham Chair John Henry was also enthusiastic in his support, saying the clinic will provide access to high quality care that will “save lives.”

Lakeridge Health has created a brand-new virtual tour video for those interested, as well as well as a tour of Lakeridge Gardens here.