CENTRAL AUSTRALIA RENAL STUDY

484 Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (4 December 2012). Has the South Australian government accepted the 'hub and spoke' model of service delivery proposed in the Central Australia Renal Study and if so, what will be the flow-on effects of that decision over the next twelve months?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs): I am told:

Alice Springs has been identified as the location for a hub and spoke model of service delivery for renal services in central Australia and continues to accept haemodialysis patients from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands. SA Health has increased the number of haemodialysis chairs available across sites in country South Australia which has increased the capacity within the local system. While there has been consideration of the establishment of a satellite haemodialysis site in the APY lands, it is not considered practicable at this time for several reasons. These include the large distances between communities and the infrastructure and workforce needed. The visiting respite dialysis service currently visits four sites within the APY lands to enable patients to return to their home communities.

Patients from the APY lands will continue to dialyse in their respective units, for example Alice Springs, Port Augusta or Adelaide. The visiting respite dialysis service will allow these patients to return to their home communities for week long visits providing the opportunity to reconnect with their land and communities. These visits will increase in 2013-14 with South Australia now owning its own dialysis truck. SA Health will evaluate this model of service provision and will continue to explore different models, including self care dialysis where appropriate.