Renal Dialysis Services

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:11): My question will be directed to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on the government's support for renal dialysis?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for his question. Renal disease is a significant public health challenge. Data from 2016 indicates that 1.7 million Australians are living with kidney disease. Some live with the disease for years. To put a human face to the statistics, about a month ago I had the privilege of meeting Sue Williams, a South Australian who has lived with kidney failure and consequent dialysis for 50 years, a length of time which we understand is a world record.

Susan Williams began dialysis on 27 May 1969 at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and has been on haemodialysis ever since. I am in awe of Susan. The willpower and resilience she has shown living with a chronic condition and intensive regular treatment for five decades speaks of her passion for life and those she loves.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Central Adelaide Local Health Network have long been recognised as leaders in the treatment of kidney disease, and Susan's story is a testament to how this dedication to excellence can have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of their patients. This is a partnership: Susan's commitment and the care of generations of health professionals.

Mrs Williams was also one of the first South Australians to receive dialysis at TQEH and went on to benefit from their provision of dialysis services in the home, a demonstration of the successes that can be achieved in the provision of care in the community. Mrs Williams' record-setting 50 years in dialysis is almost a history lesson in the rapid progress of medical science in the 20^th century. Fifty years ago she had a 14-hour long dialysis session twice weekly. Now she has four-hour sessions thrice weekly. Therefore, in the past she was facing dialysis for 28 hours per week and, with the advance of medical technology, that has come down to 12.

Mrs Williams provides hope to South Australians living with kidney disease and undergoing dialysis treatment, and her passion for life is simply infectious. The Marshall Liberal government is working to improve access to renal dialysis services in South Australia, particularly in rural and regional areas of the state.

We are investing in supporting renal dialysis in the APY lands and in Mount Gambier and working with the commonwealth government in Victor Harbor. Just this week, I was able to celebrate the first patient receiving dialysis treatment at the Mount Barker hospital, following the Marshall Liberal government's investment of $800,000 to establish a haemodialysis unit at the hospital. This investment has provided three haemodialysis chairs, which will support up to 12 patients each week to receive dialysis.

Patients in the past from Mount Barker and the region have needed to head either west to Adelaide or east to Murray Bridge. Now they can get the care they need in their own community. As Mrs Williams' story shows, this makes a real difference in the lives of South Australians. Particularly in rural and regional areas, the provision of dialysis units closer to home can help avoid long trips to the city for treatment and significant disruption to the lives of the patients and their families.

The Marshall Liberal government is committed to supporting the delivery of quality services to all South Australians, including South Australians in country South Australia, and we are delivering on that commitment. I congratulate Mrs Williams on her world record achievement of 50 years of dialysis, as well as the clinicians who have provided and continue to provide care to her and thousands of other South Australians over the years, and I wish them all the best in the future.