Dialysis service planning underway

January 12, 2012

Residents of the Barossa region receiving renal dialysis will hopefully not have to travel so far to receive treatment in the future.

Member for Schubert, Mr Ivan Venning recently received a response from the Minister for Health following his request in November for dialysis services to be made available locally in the Barossa Valley.

Mr Venning raised the matter in a bid to minimise the number of residents having to travel long distances to receive treatment.

The Minister stated in his response:
“Planning work has been undertaken which recommends the establishment of two satellite dialysis sites in the inner rural region (Barossa and Mount Lofty Ranges).

The highest priority recommended site is Gawler. The site was chosen as it was the most effective way of addressing the distances travelled by patients living not just in the Barossa areas, but also around Gawler, Two Wells, Virginia and Kapunda.

SA Health is pursuing funding opportunities to facilitate the establishment of a renal dialysis service in Gawler.” (24 December 2011)

“I am pleased that planning work into a dialysis services closer to the Barossa has been undertaken” said Mr Venning.

“Although I am disappointed that neither the Angaston or Tanunda Hospitals were selected as the site for renal dialysis in the region; I am pleased that residents from the Barossa will not have to travel to the Lyell McEwin or into Adelaide to receive treatment in the future.

“The need for such a service closer to the Barossa is there and this was demonstrated by how many residents responded to my requests for information about those travelling out of the district to receive renal dialysis” he said.

“This need has now been acknowledged by Country Health SA and the Minister and I hope such a service is implemented sooner, rather than later.

“The Minister provided no timeframes for when a renal dialysis service will be made available in Gawler and I will monitor developments and keep the pressure on to ensure it happens as soon as possible.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to contact my office and share their experiences regarding renal dialysis treatment” said Mr Venning.

Related Files

• Radio transcript - dialysis (11.0 KB)