Dr LIM - 1995-10-12
Will the minister advise the significant developments in renal facilities for the treatment of patients with kidney problems?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, kidney diseases and renal problems generally are a significant challenge in the Northern Territory, particularly given the high incidence of such diseases among Aboriginal people, not only in the north and in the Tiwi Islands which have extraordinarily high figures compared to the national average, but even in central Australia where our renal units are filled to capacity. Moves have commenced to take some of those renal dialysis treatments out to communities by means of some new techniques.
In the meantime, Royal Darwin Hospital has just opened a new dedicated renal ward. It complements the Darwin Dialysis Unit at Nightcliff. In fact, the 2 areas are managed in concert. The Royal Darwin Hospital unit is a 10-bed ward which will cater for people with ongoing renal disease, those in the end stages of renal disease and people affected by associated diseases such as diabetes and cardiac failure. If and when the unit is underutilised, it can always be used for overflows from other areas.
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There is a multidisciplinary team of specialist staff in the unit. A clinical nephrologist will commence early in the new year. The team consists of registered nurses, registered renal nurses, patient care assistants, dieticians, a social worker and an Aboriginal liaison officer. Royal Darwin Hospital and the Menzies School of Health Research have jointly appointed an academic nephrologist to research renal disease in the Territory. That same person will also take up part-time work as a community renal specialist. Some additional equipment - water purifiers - was required in the hospital for this unit, but these additional facilities and services are available here. The Territory Department of Health Services is making a very real commitment to improving the overall services for the diagnosis and treatment of renal disease in the Territory.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, kidney diseases and renal problems generally are a significant challenge in the Northern Territory, particularly given the high incidence of such diseases among Aboriginal people, not only in the north and in the Tiwi Islands which have extraordinarily high figures compared to the national average, but even in central Australia where our renal units are filled to capacity. Moves have commenced to take some of those renal dialysis treatments out to communities by means of some new techniques.
In the meantime, Royal Darwin Hospital has just opened a new dedicated renal ward. It complements the Darwin Dialysis Unit at Nightcliff. In fact, the 2 areas are managed in concert. The Royal Darwin Hospital unit is a 10-bed ward which will cater for people with ongoing renal disease, those in the end stages of renal disease and people affected by associated diseases such as diabetes and cardiac failure. If and when the unit is underutilised, it can always be used for overflows from other areas.
Page 857
There is a multidisciplinary team of specialist staff in the unit. A clinical nephrologist will commence early in the new year. The team consists of registered nurses, registered renal nurses, patient care assistants, dieticians, a social worker and an Aboriginal liaison officer. Royal Darwin Hospital and the Menzies School of Health Research have jointly appointed an academic nephrologist to research renal disease in the Territory. That same person will also take up part-time work as a community renal specialist. Some additional equipment - water purifiers - was required in the hospital for this unit, but these additional facilities and services are available here. The Territory Department of Health Services is making a very real commitment to improving the overall services for the diagnosis and treatment of renal disease in the Territory.
Page 858
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016