New Midland Kidney Dialysis Centre opens

16/8/00
People with kidney disease in the Swan, Kalamunda, Mundaring and Bassendean areas will greatly benefit from a new renal dialysis centre in Midland.
Opening the Midland Renal Dialysis Centre today, Health Minister John Day said the new facility was part of the State Government's commitment to providing quality health services closer to where people live.
"Some people with renal disease can spend up to 15 hours a week sitting in a chair undergoing dialysis," Mr Day said.
He said that up until the opening of this centre, people spent a considerable amount of time travelling to and from the city for their treatment.
"People suffering from end-stage failure face weekly dialysis treatment ranging from high dependence care in teaching hospitals to independent self-care at home," the Minister said.
Mr Day said in Western Australia, the health funding allocated to renal dialysis had grown approximately eight to 10 per cent a year since 1998.
"The State Government currently provides $26 million a year for approximately 650 dialysis patients," he said.
Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd on behalf of the State Government provides dialysis services at the Midland centre, free of charge to public patients.
Mr Day said the Midland centre was equipped with the latest technology and renal dialysis equipment.
"It is accessible to public transport and provides public parking," he said.
The centre began operation in April this year and currently dialyses 32 patients.
The Health Department identified renal dialysis as a priority program in recognition of growing demand in this area.
The objectives of the program are:

• to improve co-ordination of renal dialysis service delivery;
• to increase activity monitoring and ensuring that program funds follow patients as they move across dialysis phases;
• to analyse population health needs in relation to renal dialysis care; and
• to develop satellite services which are close to where patients live.

Priorities for the new satellite developments are determined annually by the Health Department in conjunction with the Renal Dialysis Reference Group, which comprises hospital and clinical representatives.
Mr Day said the State Government was committed to providing satellite dialysis units in suburban and rural areas.
"Increasing demand has placed added pressure, not only on facilities, but on the need for more services and trained staff," he said.
"Satellite programs reduce travel time and in some cases ensure patients do not have to move to the inner city for treatment."
The new Midland Dialysis Centre adds to the list of existing satellite haemodialysis services in Joondalup, Armadale, Melville, Mandurah, Shenton Park, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury, Geraldton and Port Hedland.
There are also tertiary level in-centre units at Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner, Fremantle and Princess Margaret Hospitals.
A community dialysis service has been established in Albany to allow self-care patients who require haemodialysis to be treated locally. New satellite services are due to open in Broome in the first half of 2001.
" Whatever we can do as health service providers to ease the impact of dialysis treatment is a major benefit for patients in our State," Mr Day said.
Media contact: Carole Cowling 9213 6600