Mount Isa Hospital has scored a funding boost to help people on dialysis remain in the north west for treatment.
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The Queensland Government has injected $1.47 million in 2018-19 to help the hospital invest in renal care.
The money will be used to bring dialysis patients back from Townsville, and treat them closer to home.
“North Queenslanders with kidney disease now be able to access more care closer to home, saving time and money traveling for renal services,” Health minister Miles said.
Part of the funding is transitional support for Doomadgee, Normanton and Mornington Island to extend the local provision of care.
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Hospital CEO Lisa Davies-Jones said she was “absolutely thrilled”.
“Our patients, their carers and families have one major question for me – why do we have to leave our country and our loved ones to get dialysis?” Ms Davies-Jones said
This will enable us to bring our patients closer to home, and will enable us to support patients in Doomadgee, Normanton and Mornington Island through supported dialysis in those community hospitals as well as continuing home dialysis services,” Ms Davies Jones said.
Renal dialysis provision in these remote areas should also benefit from the changes in the Medicare Benefit Scheme renal funding due to take effect on November 1. 2
Ms Davies Jones said from next week renal services at Mount Isa, currently run and funded by Townsville Hospital, will transfer smoothly to the north west.
“There will no job losses in Mount Isa, and our staff have been assured of that and are very supportive of this, seeing the benefits for the patients and their families,” she said.
“Indeed there will be increased staffing to the Lower Gulf Communities as we transition to supported dialysis services in these communities.”
Ms Davies-Jones said community consultation will begin in the Lower Gulf next week.
“We want these communities to be involved in the co-design of our renal services,” Ms Davies-Jones said.
“That’s the best way of ensuring patient centred care, and the best way of getting good health outcomes.”
Hospital board chairman Paul Woodhouse said this was a win for patients and congratulated all concerned.
“I also recognise and commend the commitment of the local governments and the people within these communities in the north west as they have never let up on their now realised dream of having their families treated closer to home, amongst their loved ones.”
