No room at the inn: dialysis in western Sydney

[okarol]

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No room at the inn: dialysis in western Sydney

By Western Sydney reporter Nick Lucchinelli

Posted Tue Dec 9, 2008 7:03am AEDT

The New South Wales Opposition says it is concerned renal dialysis services are operating at full capacity across western Sydney, potentially compromising patient care.

The Sydney West Area Health Service has confirmed that its four dialysis centres are working at full capacity.

It says no patients are being turned away, but some have to wait if they want treatment close to home.

The Liberal Member for Baulkham Hills, Wayne Merton, says the high demand is playing havoc with some of his constituents, and their appointments are often changed.

"A lot of these people are elderly and have transport difficulties travelling quite considerable distances," he said.

"I think the State Government has to acknowledge there is a problem and I think a closer examination will in fact disclose that is the situation."

The health service says it tries to accommodate patient requests.

Western Sydney has a higher than average rate of demand for dialysis.

A new treatment unit has been approved at Auburn and should be commissioned next year.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/09/2441048.htm

[Zach]

So much for national health care when is comes to hemodialysis.

[monrein]

Lack of facilities occurs everywhere and particularly in rural or more isolated areas.  As the population ages and the demand grows, this will become more common, even in cities, until the the facilities catch up with the demand.

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/local_story_227195609.html

What I'm curious about is why " Western Sydney has a higher than average rate of demand for dialysis".  Of some note is the fact that no one is denied treatment, but may have to wait for a spot closest to where they live. 

I'll not be trading in my national health care, when it comes to dialysis or anything else, anytime soon.  Our system has problems for sure but it has served me and others pretty well overall, so far.

[charee]

Its just not happening in Western Sydney , when i first needed dialysis i was told my local centre (35km one way) was full and the nearest centre i would have to go to was 31/2 hours one way so a 7 hour round trip 3 times a week so thats when we decided to do home dialysis it was the best decision i ever made , I know of a lady in her 80's that travelled the 7 hour trip for nearly 12 months before a spot came available at the local centre her husband used to drive her not much fun for them

[G-Ma]

I believe ND has only 17 centers so many people have to drive at least 100 miles one way 3X a week and they are so worn out.  I don't know if I could do it.