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New TI dialysis unit a lifesaver for locals
21 October 2013
D
avid Kempton, Member for Cook (pictured), has welcomed the expansion of “critical” renal dialysis services in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Region. Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said renal patients would return to Bamaga from Cairns this week to undertake self-care dialysis as a result of “strong advocacy” from Mr Kempton and an expansion of facilities at the local hospital. “This is fantastic news for the people in these communities and a major step forward for the delivery of health services in the region,” Mr Kempton said. “As one of my key election promises, I never stopped lobbying the Minister and Torres Strait– Northern Peninsula Hospital and Health Service (HHS) for this expansion and I am thrilled my fight has paid off. “Patients have already started returning home to receive treatment and now, they can get the care they need with the support of their loved ones. “It has always been one of my biggest beliefs that patients should be given the option of receiving care within their own communities. “I will continue working with the Minister and the HHS to promote a health system that supports the ongoing treatment for long term, non-critical patients at home.” Mr Kempton said the self-care unit at Bamaga Hospital had been expanded from one to four self-
care haemodialysis machines to accommodate the extra patients, along with additional associated specialised patient dialysis chairs. “This expansion is part of an overall extension of renal dialysis services in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula areas,’’ he said. “Previously, nurse-assisted dialysis was not available at all in the Torres Strait and only a limited self-care dialysis service was available at Bamaga Hospital. “But from early in 2014, a full nurse-assisted dialysis unit will become available on Thursday Island for the very first time in the region’s history.” Mr Kempton said a nine-chair, nurse-assisted dialysis unit formed part of the recently completed $39 million Chronic Disease Centre at Thursday Island Hospital. “I understand the current plan is to start with about three chairs in operation and then gradually build up to the current nine-chair capacity as demand grows. “Capacity has also been built
in to expand to 12 chairs if eventually needed.” Mr Kempton said 23 patients from the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula areas were currently undergoing nurse-assisted dialysis in the Cairns and Hinterland HHS region because of the previous lack of services closer to home. “Some of these patients have made a permanent move to Cairns and there will be patients who will not be medically suitable to return home as they need to remain in Cairns close to specialist medical assistance,’’ he said. “But another 10 patients who have learned how to do dialyse themselves at home have already been able to return to the region, including three who are returning to Bamaga this week.” Mr Kempton said the Torres Strait–Northern Peninsula and Cairns and Hinterland health service teams had worked together to ensure the Bamaga unit was ready to receive the extra patients. “This is a great example of two separate hospital and health services working together for the benefit of patients in their communities and I commend them both for their efforts.’’ Mr Kempton said as well as helping treat those who had suffered renal failure, the new Chronic Disease Centre would help build greater awareness of kidney failure. “With kidney failure, as with all chronic disease conditions, prevention is always better than the cure,’’ he said. Page 1