Campaign for western Labrador dialysis gathering momentum

A Labrador man at the centre of a campaign over the shortage of dialysis machines in Newfoundland and Labrador has returned home from St. John's after successful treatment, but a western Labrador committee says it will keep fighting for better local services.

Maurice Connors was forced to move to a hostel in St. John's to obtain life-saving dialysis treatment at the province's largest hospital. Labrador residents say his case illustrates the need for a dialysis machine in western Labrador.

Connors returned home to western Labrador on Monday. His kidney function has improved and he has gone several days without dialysis.

"It feels good now, I didn't expect to get back here ... but something went right," said Connors, minutes after he got off a plane from St. John's.

Last week, a committee of residents from western Labrador met with the local health authority to lobby for a dialysis machine.

Resident George Kean says the committee is working with the provincial chapter of the kidney foundation to get a clearer picture of how many people from Western Labrador need dialysis.

"[Health officials are] interviewing dialysis patients from Labrador who are in St. John's and they're seeing, regards to their medical status, if they could come back here in Labrador West and what type of dialysis they would need," said Kean.

Monday, Labrador Health CEO Boyd Rowe said the authority must first determine how much local demand there is for a dialysis machine and then consider its options.

Rowe said he hopes he'll have more information when he meets with the committee again in late April.

Connors said he'll be paying close attention to what happens. "I can't wait, can't wait to get one, cause I might need it down the road again."