New Diabetes & Home Dialysis Training Centre

31 October 2005

New Diabetes & Home Dialysis Training Centre Under Construction

The Canterbury District Health Board has begun construction of the new Diabetes & Home Dialysis Training Centre on the Christchurch Hospital extended campus of St Asaph Street.

The building which is due for completion next October (2006) is being built at a cost of $5.2million which includes moving expenses to the new site and fitting out the new building.

The four storeyed building will house the Diabetes Centre on the first and second floors – the clinical area will be on the first floor and administration offices will be based on the second floor. The fourth floor will be for the Home Dialysis Training Centre where they will train kidney sufferers to carry out their own dialysis.

The ground floor will cater for Diabetes Christchurch Inc, a support group and charity for the support of diabetes sufferers. They work closely with the Diabetes Centre providing people with moral support. Diabetes Christchurch was formed to raise awareness about diabetes and have achieved some notable successes in this area through the energies of Professor Don Beavan. Community education, support for research, advocacy and lobbying for people with diabetes is a cornerstone of their work.

Project Manager Tim Exton said the project had started on time and was making good progress.

‘The new centre is being built because the existing facilities are woefully inadequate.’

The Board approved construction of the new Centre late last year.

ENDS

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