Don Ritchie, building estates manager, NHS Tayside, accepted the keys from representatives of the contractor, Yorkon, for the first kidney dialysis unit in Angus, which is due to be operational later in the summer.

The new eight-station dialysis unit at the hospital will operate six days per week, Monday through to Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., providing renal services and kidney dialysis for up to 32 patients.

It will be staffed by experienced dialysis nurses and supported by consultant medical staff based at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Currently, patients from Angus have to endure lengthy journeys to and from Ninewells Hospital three times a week to receive treatment. Access for patients will be greatly improved when the new unit at Arbroath Infirmary opens later this summer.

Kidney dialysis delivered more locally will benefit many Angus renal patients who will have reduced travelling times as well as greater flexibility to their treatment from a more patient-centred approach to dialysis.

This new unit will significantly reduce pressure in the renal unit at Ninewells and evening dialysis for patients across Tayside will be minimised as a direct result of the increased capacity the Angus unit provides.