A new health facility in the South West designed to significantly help patients in the region with kidney failure has been officially opened.

The Plymouth Dialysis Unit is a purpose-built facility for patients from Devon and Cornwall needing treatment for renal failure.

It was officially opened yesterday by patient Kevin Farrell and Sir Robert Dunn of the National Kidney Federation, the UK charity run by kidney patients.

Sir Robert said: "I am so excited about this unit. By opening it, we are opening the door to the future.

"The only constant in the renal world is change – better treatment for patients and better environments. I must commend the team, they have done a tremendous job and been totally tenacious in making this unit real. It is wonderful."

The facility at Eaton Business Park opened its doors in the summer and provides outpatient haemodialysis, and dialysis training to patients with advanced kidney failure in Plymouth, East Cornwall, North and South Devon.

Treatment is soon to be offered to patients elsewhere in the country who wish to visit the Westcountry on holiday.