COUNTRY DIALYSIS SERVICES

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (12:49): I move:

That this house urges the state government to provide more dialysis services in country areas.

There are many people residing in rural and regional South Australia who have to travel great distances to receive dialysis treatment. Some have the option of home dialysis; however, for many this is not an option due to medical complications or lack of support at home. I know most members in this house would know of circumstances just like this. Patients can currently access dialysis at Berri, Ceduna, Clare, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Maitland, South Coast and Whyalla, as stated in the Country Health SA annual report. The report also states:

The top five services/reasons for all admissions in country hospitals were: renal dialysis, general medicine, orthopaedics, cardiology and obstetrics.

So dialysis is a highly utilised service in country areas. Last year I conducted a survey of constituents in the Schubert electorate requesting people who had to travel to receive dialysis treatment to contact my office. Eight people from across the electorate who regularly had to travel great distances to receive treatment either to the Lyell McEwin or Royal Adelaide hospitals contacted me, as did many others who administer dialysis at home. I know that there are many people who did not respond to my survey, who we knew were actually receiving dialysis within the area. I also note, member for Frome, that you have two dialysis chairs—

Mr Brock: Four.

Mr VENNING: —four—in Port Pirie, and we did not expect that within the last 12 to 18 months and I am very pleased that they are there because they are doing a great service. Some of these stories are quite heartbreaking—families who have had to move away to be closer to where they could receive the treatment, aged and frail people who have to travel great distances several times a week. It is an umbilical cord: unless you can get to the machine, you cannot live.

One case that was brought to my attention was of a couple in their 70s residing in the Barossa, one of whom was about to commence dialysis treatment. They were informed that there was a waiting list at the Lyell McEwin and that it could be some time until a place was made available for them. So, in the meantime, the patient would have to travel to Adelaide to receive treatment three times a week, a big impost on an elderly couple, especially when one is very unwell. The specialist advised the patient that they could receive treatment immediately at the Berri Hospital where there was space, so this couple were seriously considering moving to Berri to live as they did want to put family and friends out by asking for assistance to travel to Adelaide three times a week until a space was made available at the Lyell McEwin.

Another case that was brought to my attention was a lady in her 70s who had to travel three times per week from Keyneton to the Royal Adelaide Hospital so her husband could receive dialysis treatment. Keyneton is 80 kilometres from Adelaide so the constituent is not eligible to receive assistance with transport costs through the Patients Assistance Transport Scheme, because patients, as we know, must travel over 100 kilometres for treatment to be eligible for that. These cases are just a couple that have been brought to my attention and there are many more. I raised the lack of dialysis facilities with the Minister for Health last year and he provided the following response:

Planning work is being undertaken which recommends the establishment of two satellite dialysis sites in the inner rural region (Barossa and Mount Lofty Ranges). The highest priority recommended site is Gawler. The site was chosen as it was the most effective way of addressing the distances travelled by patients living not just in the Barossa areas but also around Gawler, Two Wells, Virginia and Kapunda. SA Health is pursuing funding opportunities to facilitate the establishment of a renal dialysis service in Gawler. (24 December 2011).

I question this. The people in the Barossa would be pleased to have one at Gawler, because it certainly would be a lot closer to them. I would suggest that, because the Gawler facility is only 12 minutes from the Lyell McEwin, it would serve a lot more people in the right area if it was in the Barossa because the people in Gawler only have to drive down the road those few minutes to be at the Lyell McEwin.

I have recently written to the minister again seeking an update as to how this work is progressing but to date have not received a response. The Barossa needs to have its own dialysis service, although a Gawler service would reduce travelling time for those from the Barossa region who need to access dialysis treatment. It is an interim stopgap measure. The Barossa needs its own service. The business case into a new Barossa health facility recommends that dialysis service be part of a new hospital facility in the Barossa. The need has been demonstrated but we know that that hospital is a little way off yet—I still hope we get something before I retire—and so, therefore, is the dialysis.

Way back in 2005, the Barossa Lions Club raised $23,000 to put towards the provision of two dialysis chairs in the Barossa. I made strong representations, seven years ago, but to no avail. I am not sure if the money is still available. I hope it is. I am sure it could be reconstituted if we got the green light on that. It is clear that there needs to be increased services at existing dialysis locations and dialysis offered in new locations across country South Australia to meet demand.

I have a constituent in Angaston who has his own facility at home, a wonderful spouse to support him and he is quite comfortable with that. He is extremely lucky because he is able to access that type of service, but not all people can. Most of us would take the freedom we have to move about and live our lives for granted, but if you had to front up three days a week for dialysis and travel two or three hours to get there, I do not think I could cope with that and I do not know how other members would.

It is clear, from the response to my survey, that the renal dialysis service available to residents in the Barossa region is not adequate and is resulting in patients and their carers having to travel long distances for treatment, and I am certain this situation is replicated in other country areas. There is one particular well known person from the Barossa. He is a South Australian and Australian icon who now has to access dialysis three times a week. I will not name him but you would all know him, he is extremely well known, his face is on most wine bottles. I feel for his family, particularly his wife who has had her life turned upside down, and she is an extremely busy person anyway. She has now had her week reduced by three days because he has to have access to dialysis in Adelaide for three days a week.

It is shocking to expect people who are so very ill to travel such long distances on a regular basis to receive treatment. I hope the house will not only support this motion but that the government will hear the plea and help the community. The community are very much into self-help. If the government said yes I am sure the community would rally and support it, with not only verbal support but also financial support. I urge the house to support the motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Piccolo.

[Sitting suspended from 12:57 to 14:00]