OAKESHOTT INDEPENDENT
OAKESHOTT WELCOMES NEWS OF BREAKTHROUGH FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS
Independent MP for Port Macquarie, Robert Oakeshott, today was encouraged by the breakthrough news that the Port Macquarie Base Hospital is planning on placing four renal dialysis beds on-site at the hospital.
"I certainly welcome this important news, and it is a clinical breakthrough for a better health service in Port Macquarie, Mr Oakeshott said.
"At the moment, there are a number of patients at the hospital, receiving treatment, who have to be transported by ambulance to dialyse at the community health centre up to five times per week, and then transported back to the hospital to continue their on-going clinical care, Mr Oakeshott said.
"This breakthrough news should change this, and now better clinical outcomes can be achieved for those with kidney failure, as well as helping free up some resources at the dialysis unit at the community health centre.
"What is now needed is an improvement in the quality of the dialysis machines, which I am reliably informed are second-rate compared to other machines currently in operation in NSW. I hope the best possible equipment is taken into consideration when the four machines are being considered for Port Base Hospital in the near future, as well as an upgrade of machines at the Community Health Centre", Mr Oakeshott said today.
CONTACT: Renal lobby Group - Anne Meister 6586 1704
Clinical Director - Mohan Vattekad 6584 0046
CEO NCAHS - Chris Crawford 6620 2217
25 June 2007