A MAN who has seen his wife endure two years of "distressing" 22-mile trips to Birmingham for treatment has welcomed Kidderminster's new renal unit - but claims it is not enough.

Stourport man Nigel Thomas feels the centre for kidney patients, due to open at Kidderminster Hospital in April next year, should be merely a "stepping stone" to better services.

The £600,000 unit will mean his wife Janace, 61, will no longer have to endure the gruelling ambulance trip from Stourport to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital for her three-times weekly dialysis treatment.

"We have to get up at 5.30am every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and do not return home until after 2pm," Mr Thomas said.

"That's almost a whole day out of your life three times a week. I'm over the moon that she will be able to get treatment so much closer to home."

Mrs Thomas developed kidney problems because of the high dosage of steroids used to treat lupus, with which she was diagnosed in 1979.

She has been travelling to Birmingham for dialysis treatment for the past two years.

Mr Thomas has been closely involved with the campaign for a renal unit at Kidderminster during this period and praised the role of Wyre Forest MP David Lock in pursuing the issue.

He also works closely with Worcestershire Health Authority as a patients' representative - and feels several measures must be taken to ensure that the Kidderminster unit, which will have 12 treatment stations, is better than others in the region.

He said: "Long term, I want to see it become a consultant-led unit where patients can go in emergencies, such as acute renal failure. A renal patient's condition can change in hours and in terms of treatment they're the poor relations of the health service.

"That's why there must be provision for adequate disabled parking and comfortable waiting rooms at Kidderminster Hospital."

The bid for funding for the unit was prepared by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

A spokesman said: "The Kidderminster renal dialysis unit is an outpatients' facility which patients will visit, have treatment and leave on the same day. Consultants will be available should their input be required during a patient's treatment."

Regarding disabled parking and waiting room facilities, the spokesman said: "A new ambulatory care centre is planned for the site and a project leader is being appointed.

"These issues will therefore be considered as part of these plans."