Better Diabetes Care, Closer to Home for Regional West Australians
Residents in regional and remote Western Australia suffering from renal failure, often caused by diabetes, will be offered a helping hand thanks to 22 new renal dialysis chairs and other important health infrastructure projects to be funded through the Gillard Government’s 2011-12 Budget.
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The Hon Wayne Swan MP
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Indigenous Health
9 May 2011Residents in regional and remote Western Australia suffering from renal failure, often caused by diabetes, will be offered a helping hand thanks to 22 new renal dialysis chairs and other important health infrastructure projects to be funded through the Gillard Government’s 2011-12 Budget.
Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon today announced that a total of $57 million will be invested in five new projects across WA with a particularly strong emphasis on renal dialysis, as well as providing new dentistry and primary health care training facilities.
Minister Roxon explained that the new chairs, which represent a 40% jump in renal dialysis chairs for regional Western Australia, would significantly help those people living in remote parts of the state who are often forced to move to Perth so they can have renal dialysis treatment several days a week.
“Having to move away from family and friends for medical treatment can be very stressful. This is why the Gillard Government has been so passionate about expanding medical services out of the big cities, helping to provide better care, closer to home,” Minister Roxon said.
“This 40 per cent jump in renal dialysis chairs, alongside 46 new patient accommodation units that are also being funded, will help treat patients closer to their homes.
“These new facilities in the Kimberley, Goldfields, Pilbara and in Bunbury will add to this Government’s 2009 investment to establish renal dialysis services in Derby and Kununurra, which I’m sure will be well received.”
A major component of this new funding resulted from a bid by the West Australian Government to deliver better health services to regional West Australians.
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan said these projects will greatly improve access to quality health care, while also stimulating the local economies and creating jobs.
“Finding room in this very responsible Budget for expanded health services has been difficult, but shows what a high priority it is for the Gillard Government,’’ Mr Swan said.
Minister for Indigenous Health Warren Snowdon explained that $3.8 million has also been provided by the Gillard Government to fund the redevelopment of the Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal Primary Health Care and Training for Rural Western Australia, operated by the Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medicare Service.
“The doctors and nurses at this Service have more than doubled the number of consultations they perform in the past six years, but their infrastructure hasn’t kept up. This redevelopment will see another five new clinical consultation rooms built, as well as a health promotion facility and four consulting rooms dedicated to maternal and child health.”
Minister Roxon also announced that a new six-surgery public dental clinic will be built in Busselton, to help service the dental needs of the growing south-west community. In addition, a multi-purpose health centre will be build in Eucla providing key health infrastructure for the isolated Nullarbor town. The facility will include a new staff residence as well as two assessment beds and one observation bed.
Minister Roxon said the projects had been selected by the Government for funding through the Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF) regional priority round, from the applications assessed by the independent HHF Advisory Board as satisfying the funding requirements.
“These new projects and many other projects around Australia being funded from the Fund’s Regional Priority Round will help strengthen regional health and hospital services and build a better system for the future,” she said.
“Theses projects are part of the Government’s $5 billion commitment to health and hospital infrastructure as part of its national health reform agenda.’’
Media Contacts:
Deputy Prime Minister: 02 6277 7340
Minister Roxon: 02 6277 7220
Minister Snowdon: 02 6277 7820
WA Health and Hospital Fund Regional Priority Round Projects
Bringing Renal Dialysis Closer to Home in remote Western Australia ($45.8m)
Funding is for the expansion of renal dialysis services at outreach centres, including:
- 17 additional renal dialysis chairs across four sites:
- Kimberley (Fitzroy Crossing) – provide satellite outreach service (SOS) with 4 chairs
- Pilbara (Roebourne) – provide SOS with 4 chairs
- Goldfields (Kalgoorlie) – increase SOS from 7 to 12 chairs
- Goldfields (Laverton / Leonora) – provide SOS with up to 4 chairs.
- new clinical treatment areas in Broome, Port Hedland, Kalgoorlie and Geraldton to support regional renal specialist teams
- 46 patient accommodation units across seven locations comprising Broome, Derby, Kununurra and Fitzroy Crossing (Kimberley), Roebourne, Kalgoorlie and Carnarvon (Midwest).
Renal Dialysis Unit Expansion, Bunbury ($2.55m)
Funding is for the expansion of the existing renal dialysis unit at St John of God Hospital Bunbury, including:
- 5 new renal dialysis chairs to increase the renal dialysis services to 12 chairs
- supporting infrastructure such as additional storage, consult/treatment suites, lift, reverse osmosis unit and car parking.
Busselton General Dental Clinic ($2.55m)
- Funding for a new six surgery public dental clinic in Busselton.
Multi Purpose Health Centre, Eucla ($2.6m)
Funding is for the construction of a new multi purpose service facility and a new staff residence in Eucla, including:
- two assessment and one observation beds
- direct ambulance doors/entrance into the treatment room
- a consultation room for doctor and visiting providers.
Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal Primary Health Care & Training for Rural Western Australia ($3.8m)
Funding is for the redevelopment of the Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal Primary Health Care and Training for rural Western Australia, located in Geraldton. The redevelopment will provide the construction and fit-out for:
- five additional clinical consultation rooms
- four new consulting rooms for maternal and child health
- health promotion facility.
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