For Scott Spence-Lee, dialysis used to mean coming home exhausted and struggling to focus. Today, the 70-year-old has more energy for the things that matter most, including spending time with his family and playing with his grandson.

It's a difference Scott credits to new dialysis technology at SHN, introduced as part of a major donor-supported redevelopment that's transforming the patient experience.

Scott has been living with kidney failure since 2018 and visits SHN several times a week for life-sustaining dialysis treatment.

“It was a shock,” Scott recalled of his diagnosis. “I was diagnosed at SHN, and eventually my care team determined that dialysis was the next step.”

Earlier this year, Scott became one of the first patients to receive treatment in the new Ted Rogers Hemodialysis Unit at Centenary Hospital, part of the largest dialysis redevelopment in SHN’s history.

Made possible through the generosity of donors to the Love, Scarborough campaign, the new unit added 21 dialysis stations, along with modern technology, greater privacy and a more comfortable environment for patients who spend hours receiving treatment each week.

“The new space is more private, more modern, and much more conducive to receiving treatment. It is a comforting space,” Scott said. “I love my nurses and care team. They work as a real team and make you feel part of it.”

One of the biggest changes for Scott has been the new B. Braun Dialog IQ hemodialysis machines. Patients, including Scott, helped evaluate the equipment before it was selected, ensuring their experiences and needs helped shape the new unit.

“With this newer technology, you finish your treatment and immediately get your mojo back,” he shared. “Before, when I finished dialysis, I was so tired and had trouble focusing. Now, when I get home after dialysis, I can still do things.”

His family has noticed, too. “My eldest daughter said I’m better because I can spend more time with my family now and don’t sleep as much as I used to. I move around more. I can play with my grandson more.”

SHN is home to one of North America's largest regional nephrology programs. Each year, the program provides care for more than 3,500 patients and delivers more than 96,000 dialysis treatments.

Together with the renovated TD Hemodialysis Isolation Unit at General Hospital, these donor-supported investments are expanding capacity to deliver exceptional kidney care, close to home.

Dr. Paul Tam, Medical Director and Chief of Nephrology at SHN and a member of the Love, Scarborough campaign, has been a pioneer for better kidney care in Scarborough for decades.

“Clinical care is shaped not only by the treatment itself, but also by the setting in which it is provided,” he said. “Our patients often spend many hours each week receiving dialysis, making it essential that the environment supports their comfort, privacy, and well-being. These upgraded facilities will allow us to combine leading-edge technology with a patient-centred approach.”

For Scott, that investment means more than a better experience during dialysis. It means having more energy for the life waiting for him after treatment.

“When you come to SHN, you feel the compassion and the genuine care,” he said. “The staff, the equipment, the environment, it all makes a difference. I’m grateful to be receiving my treatment here.”