Dialysis unit in a sick condition

Dialysis unit in a sick condition
BY REBEKAH HOLLIDAY
28/10/2009 1:00:00 AM

NEWS that the State Government has splashed out on a new $1 million dollar renal dialysis unit for the inner-Sydney suburb of Auburn has infuriated Wagga residents campaigning for a better deal for patients in the bush.

Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt joined her Labor colleague, Member for Auburn Barbara Perry, in opening the state-of-the-art, six-chair unit at Auburn Hospital last month.

"The purpose-built unit has large windows and spacious, airy rooms, ensuring plenty of natural light which creates a more therapeutic setting," Minister Tebbutt said at the opening.

Roger Southwood, whose wife June undergoes hours of life-saving dialysis every week, has nothing but a park bench to sit on at the Wagga centre's waiting area outside.

Mr Southwood cannot sit inside in the air-conditioning because there is no room for him.

"It's crammed full in there. These patients, many of whom are grandmothers and grandfathers, do not even have the privacy of a curtain," Mr Southwood said.

"And the State Government is chucking around money trying to buy votes by upgrading sports stadiums. It's a damn disgrace. They should be absolutely ashamed of themselves."

Premier Nathan Rees was invited by Mr Southwood of the Wagga Dialysis Patients and Supporters Action Group, to visit the renal centre at Yathong Street to see the inadequacies when he visited the city in September.

"If a patient collapses, suffers vomiting or diarrhoea, all patients present cannot avoid sharing the embarrassment," he told Premier Rees in his letter.

Mr Southwood's letter was acknowledged but the premier did not visit.

Some relief could soon be on the way because integrated services manager Robyn Goffe has promised to fund a tidy up of a neighbouring cottage, owned by the hospital, to improve the situation.

"It (Wagga's renal dialysis centre) is too small - we've definitely outgrown it," she said yesterday.

Ms Goffe, who has resigned as manager but has agreed to extend her stay by three weeks, is determined to see work start on the $40,000 project before she leaves.

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