Kimberley kidney service plea

Kimberley kidney service plea
11th February 2008, 6:15 WST

A Kimberley health worker has raised serious concerns about inadequate services to treat kidney problems among the mainly indigenous population in the region and has pleaded with the State Government to tackle the issue.

In an email sent to a Labor MP and forwarded to Health Minister Jim McGinty’s office, the worker said services were deteriorating and people dying because of Government inaction.

The worker, who is attached to the Kimberley Satellite Dialysis Centre, said the number of clients with kidney failure was escalating and the Kimberley continued to have one of the world’s worst track records for renal problems.

The Broome centre treats about 42 Aboriginal patients who have kidney failure for a variety of reasons including diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic infection. The unit has 10 dialysis machines in use. At times there can be more than 20 people receiving dialysis treatment in Perth because there is no room in Broome.

The worker, who is not named at her request, has declined to comment but confirmed she sent the email, which was leaked to The West Australian this month. “The Health Department’s funding for renal (kidney) services in the Kimberley is shamefully inadequate,” her email said. “Renal services have been dramatically eroded by poor decisions by the Health Department, inertia by the Health Department and what can only be described as incompetence.

“Programs to stem the flood of renal failure are almost non-existent and the Health Department is procrastinating over a business case to fund preventive and support services in the region.

“Kimberley people are being neglected and the consequences are escalating health problems and the clogging up of the system.

“It is unacceptable in this wealthy State that health services in the North-West are so poor, and it would not happen in other regions. It is intolerable and needs to be addressed.”

Liberal leader Troy Buswell said it was another tragic example of the failures in the State’s health system and further evidence of the need for Alan Carpenter to appoint a “full-time” health minister.

“This is a Government who purport to be the champions of the Western Australian indigenous community and yet this is just another example of them being big on rhetoric and very poor when it comes to on-the-ground performance,” he said.

Calls have increased for Health Minister Jim McGinty to lose one of his two major portfolios in the wake of an explosive Corruption and Crime Commission report, which led to the resignation of Health Department boss Neale Fong. But the Premier has backed Mr McGinty, saying he will retain both roles because he is one of the country’s best health ministers.

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service chief executive Henry Councillor said he totally agreed with what was written in the email about renal services in the Kimberley. “Jim McGinty has been a very poor minister and his focus on health has been very poor and the evidence shows that,” he said.

Mr McGinty refused to comment.

JESSICA STRUTT

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=146&ContentID=57947