Donegal’s loss is Clare’s gain

IT is very much a case of Donegal’s loss is Clare’s gain following the appointment of Dr Austin Stack as Professor of Medicine at the University of Limerick.
Dr Stack has joined existing nephrologists Dr Casserly and Dr Cronin at the dialysis unit in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick and at the Fresenius unit on the Dock Road.
He was consultant nephrologist at Letterkenny General Hospital in Donegal where he was highly respected.
The Clare branch of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) have welcomed his appointment to the Mid-West area, while he has been enquiring about the kidney association in Clare, as he was familiar with the work of the Donegal branch.
He has been invited by the Clare branch to speak to patients and members next Tuesday at 7.45pm in the West County Hotel, Ennis.
Clare IKA branch treasurer, Peggy Eustace said Dr Stack is looking forward to meeting patients during his Ennis visit. Ms Eustace said patients can learn a lot of important information from medics when they meet them outside of a hospital setting.
Professor Stack’s talk will be beneficial for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) pri-dialysis, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients (home dialysis), as well as transplant recipients and their carers.
Renal nurse co-ordinator Bríd Collins will also attend the meeting. Over the years, the Clare branch has seen a big increase in the numbers of people with kidney disease.
There are 36 Clare patients receiving haemodialysis in hospital and one home dialysis patient. Eight patients in the Mid-West received transplants, four of which were from Clare and this number also included living related transplants. While the Clare branch was saddened by the loss of some of its members this year, the number of patients requiring dialysis is “alarming” and continues to rise.
The Fresenius unit, which is an extension of the regional hospital unit, came on stream mainly due to the increase in the numbers of people suffering from chronic kidney disease. Patients from Limerick and Tipperary are also treated in both facilities.