SKIPTON DIALYSIS UNIT (OCTOBER 2007) 

The Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation has donated £2,200 to the Skipton Dialysis Unit to fund a state of the art chair for people who suffer from chronic renal failure. The chair will provide a more comfortable environment for patients to be treated.

Chronic renal failure affects the function of the kidneys and is fatal unless treated. Haemodialysis filters the blood and removes any impurities and this treatment is carried at hospitals, such as the Skipton Dialysis Unit, by nursing staff. A patient has to attend three sessions a week where they have to sit or lay for four hours remaining still. The new chair will enable this process to be more bearable for the patients. The Skipton Dialysis Unit is part of the Airedale General Hospital and has been treating patients with kidney failure since 1995.

Shelia Hull, sister in charge and ward manager commented, "This donation will make a huge difference to the patients at the unit. Thank you Skipton!"

Maggie Ingham, branch manager of the Society's Skipton branch, on behalf of the Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation, added, "We are delighted to have been able to donate to such a worthy cause and I hope that the patients at the Skipton Dialysis Unit will really benefit from the chair. Our Charitable Foundation aims to make a real difference to people's lives and any registered charities that are looking for help can pick up an application form from their nearest Skipton branch."