MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has moved a Notice of Motion in State Parliament requesting the NSW Government allocate funding and prioritise the construction of a new and expanded renal dialysis unit at Moree District Hospital.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Marshall said the existing five-chair unit, which was funded by the Moree community many years ago, was in desperate need of expansion and a purpose-built modern space at the hospital.
“The unit is at full capacity and cannot be expanded in its current space within the hospital,” Mr Marshall said.
“The nursing staff in the unit are exceptional and despite running multiple shifts in the unit, to maximise the use of the chairs for patients, they cannot keep up with the growing demand for this service.
“There’s a waiting list for the chairs, which leaves people in need of this service with only two options – take up home dialysis, which isn’t appropriate for some people and can be expensive, or travelling to Tamworth for treatment, which is a round trip of six hours, three times each week.
“The community needs more renal chairs in the unit, which, given the layout of the hospital, can only occur in a new purpose-built facility.
“A new unit would provide more comfort to patients who sit in cramped conditions for hours on end and the dedicated nursing staff.”
Mr Marshall has raised this urgent request with Hunter New England Health and Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
“The demand for renal dialysis will continue to grow in the Moree district and the community needs a new unit that is welcoming, modern and can accommodate more patients and meet future demand,” Mr Marshall said.
Mr Marshall’s Notice of Motion, Thursday, February 8 2018:
- Acknowledges the strong support of the Moree community in funding a five-chair Renal Dialysis Unit at Moree District Hospital and the dedicated nursing staff who support its patients;
- Notes that many years on, the unit is cramped, in high demand and at capacity, with some members of the community now having to travel away for dialysis or purchase equipment to undertake home dialysis;
- Requests the NSW Government to prioritise the funding and construction of a new and expanded dialysis unit at Moree to cater for increasing demand for this vital service.
