Divided on dialysis

[okarol]

Divided on dialysis
21/08/2008 9:27:00 AM

A HEATED meeting between representatives of Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) and the Monaro Regional Renal Dialysis Group confirmed GSAHS plans to establish a system of home-style dialysis at the hospital.

The renal lobby group say this objective is not in keeping with their group's plans to see a fully operational dialysis service at the Cooma Hospital.

GSAHS representatives Ken Barnett, Simon Milligan and Dr Maggie Jamieson met with the group yesterday to provide an update on the hospital's position and progress with getting the self-managed system up and running, a decision, which group members say is not good enough.

"They're confusing the issue," chairman Dugald Mitchell said.

"I don't know if they are listening," he said.

Health service manager Simon Milligan reiterated to the meeting that a system of home based dialysis was still the best option for patients who were deemed to be able to dialyse at home, however for circumstances of distance or water quality would prefer to seek treatment at the hospital.

The position of the hospital on the issue and their continued shift in focus has left members of the group frustrated and angry.

"They keep putting it in the too hard basket, and its not too hard," Mr Mitchell said.

"Really it's bureaucracy."

The group viewed the decision from GSAHS as a band-aid solution, which will not solve the tyranny of distance for the majority of dialysis patients.

"We're not happy to put up with this nonsense, we need a proper service and they've got to provide a specialist if that's what is needed," Mr Mitchell said.

http://cooma.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/divided-on-dialysis/1250214.aspx