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Crisis
for dialysis patients Member for Flinders Liz Penfold has called on the government for a purpose built dialysis unit in Port Lincoln to cater for the growing number of dialysis patients on Eyre Peninsula. Mrs Penfold said the number and difficulty of dialysis treatments has outgrown the local facility and the problem is compounded by a shortage of trained staff. “There are not enough trained staff to operate the dialysis unit in the grounds of the Port Lincoln Hospital on a 24/7 basis. “In addition the current renal unit is located well away from the main hospital building. A new unit should be incorporated into the main building ensuring access to Accident & Emergency and other facilities such as the kiosk,” she said. Mrs Penfold said increasing numbers of dialysis patients have to remain in Adelaide for dialysis because Port Lincoln cannot cater for renal patients in their current facilities. “This means that these people are unable to return to their homes and are forced to live away from families and friends to get treatment,” she said. Fortunately the three Adelaide hospitals are now working together to prioritise cases with Flinders Medical Centre taking the lead role to coordinate with the Port Lincoln hospital to bring suitable patients back. “The government is promoting Port Lincoln hospital as the regional general hospital and it must get serious about urgently providing a purpose built facility with sufficient trained nurses to address the need on Eyre Peninsula,” Mrs. Penfold said. |
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