St. Jude Hospital has officially opened its new Dialysis Unit at the Augier facility, delivering a major boost to life-saving renal care in southern Saint Lucia and paving the way for more patients to receive critical treatment.
The state-of-the-art unit, which became operational on Tuesday, July 28, features 15 dialysis treatment chairs—almost doubling the capacity of the previous eight-chair facility and significantly strengthening the hospital’s ability to meet the island’s growing demand for renal services.
The expanded facility currently serves 45 dialysis patients across three daily treatment shifts, with each patient receiving dialysis three times per week. Hospital officials say additional patients will be admitted in phases as the service continues to expand.
The move is expected to bring relief to the 27 patients currently on the dialysis waiting list, offering renewed hope to individuals living with chronic kidney disease who require regular, life-sustaining treatment.
To support the enhanced service, the unit is staffed by 11 nurses, one attendant and two nephrologists. Recruitment is also underway for five additional nurses and six dialysis technicians as the hospital prepares to increase patient capacity further.
The commissioning of the new Dialysis Unit marks another significant milestone in the phased transition to the new St. Jude Hospital, reinforcing efforts to modernise healthcare delivery and improve access to specialised medical services in the south of the island.
Hospital officials have indicated that a full report on the opening ceremony, including remarks from key stakeholders, will be released at a later date, while interviews with members of the Dialysis Unit team are also available following the official opening.
