The unit in the Wiltshire town's Great Western Hospital replaces the old temporary centre in Bristol Street which had been operating since 2000.

The unit, which will be managed and staffed by specialist nursing staff from the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, has 12 �15,000 machines and was funded by the National Health Service.

Prior to the opening of the temporary centre three years ago, dialysis patients were forced to travel about 30 miles to the Radcliffe Infirmary.

We are grateful to the Swindon Kidney Patients Association for their efforts in ensuring that this new centre became a reality Rainer B�hler

On Monday, 32 patients transferred to the unit with a further six to eight due next week.

Rainer B�hler, renal directorate manager said: "We are delighted for the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust to be able to act as host for this very important local facility.

Providing dialysis

"The temporary unit was incapable of meeting the growing demand for renal dialysis spaces.

"Staff at the John Radcliffe and at the Great Western have worked hard to develop these services together, making fantastic facilities available to local people at the same time as ensuring the availability of specialist expertise.

"We are grateful to the Swindon Kidney Patients Association for their efforts in ensuring that this new centre became a reality.

"Coping with kidney problems is extremely debilitating. We hope that patients can now benefit from these more comfortable and appropriate surroundings."

Machine shortage

In January it was revealed people with kidney disease were failing to receive potentially-life saving dialysis because of a serious shortage of machines.

The National Kidney Research Fund (NKRF) surveyed 71 kidney units providing dialysis on the NHS.

It found 12 units had been forced to turn away patients during 2001 because they could not cope with demand.

Once the kidneys fail, a patient must start on dialysis within three months. If treatment is delayed, their life is at risk.

Dialysis takes over the function of the kidneys, filtering out toxins from the bloodstream.