Regional Dialysis Services

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on the government's plans to increase access to dialysis in regional South Australia?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for his question. In the lead-up to the 2018 election, the Marshall Liberal team promised to invest heavily in health facilities and services in regional and remote South Australia to make it easier for country people to access care and treatment should they need it. Delivering on that commitment has been an unwavering focus of the Marshall Liberal government, something we have boosted in the context of the global pandemic as both an opportunity to increase access to services and a way of sustaining the South Australian economy.

Our pre-election commitment included a promise to support the establishment of a permanent dialysis facility at Pukatja on the APY lands, something the previous government failed to support over a number of years. With the support of the Marshall Liberal government and others, the Pukatja facility opened in August 2019. At this point, I pause to acknowledge the contribution of the Greens leader, the Hon. Tammy Franks, for her long-term advocacy for the Pukatja facility.

The Pukatja facility has made it possible for people who need regular dialysis—perhaps three times a week for around four or five hours at a time—to remain with their families on their traditional lands. Prior to the opening of the facility, the only choice for anyone needing regular dialysis was to relocate hundreds and hundreds of kilometres from their homes in facilities such as Adelaide, Port Augusta, Alice Springs and the like.

Needless to say, that experience of dislocation doesn't only affect dialysis patients on the APY lands. Securing ongoing access to a dialysis chair is a challenge for every person with end-stage renal disease in regional and remote Australia. That is why last year the Marshall Liberal government committed $200,000 towards the cost of establishing a purpose-built dialysis facility in Coober Pedy, and why in the last week the Marshall Liberal government announced a quarter of a million dollar investment in the Ceduna hospital to expand its dialysis service.

Pausing to reflect, that is at least the third shout-out for Ceduna this week. I had cause to reflect on the sterling work of their midwifery service last week; today we are celebrating an expansion of their services in relation to dialysis; and of course the Hon. Tammy Franks has reminded us of the stellar work of the community paramedics amongst the Ceduna community.

This investment in the dialysis service will make it possible for more West Coast dialysis patients to receive life-saving treatment closer to home—patients who might otherwise have to relocate permanently to Adelaide, Port Lincoln or another regional centre. Last Tuesday—sorry, the Tuesday of the week before last, because of course I was on duty here last Tuesday—I had the opportunity to visit the dialysis unit in the Ceduna hospital and talk with staff there about the expansion and what it will mean for them and for the patients they care for. Around 85 per cent of their clients are Aboriginal South Australians.

On the ground in Ceduna the redevelopment is being driven by the hospital's director of nursing, Andrew Lane, and Emma Collins, the nurse unit manager. My discussions with Andrew, Emma and Samantha Fleming, a registered nurse who works in the unit, underscored how vital and life changing these types of investments can be, and how determined local staff are to deliver them as quickly as possible. The redevelopment is planned to be completed this year.

I also want to acknowledge two other people who were part of the visit: one, the outgoing member for Flinders, Peter Treloar, who has been a strong advocate for strengthening access to health services for the people of Eyre Peninsula and the West Coast; and the other is Mr Warren Miller, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation (formerly the Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service).

It was clear from my discussions with both Mr Miller and Mr Lane that Yadu, the local Aboriginal community controlled health service and the Ceduna hospital, the government-operated hospital, have a strong and positive working relationship and see the value and exciting opportunities that an expanded dialysis service will mean, not only for clients but also for the staff who support them, both in the service and vital support services.